Comparison of the operative and postoperative effects of del Nido and blood cardioplegia solutions in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to compare the operative and postoperative effects of del Nido cardioplegia (DN group) and blood cardioplegia (BC group) performed in cardiac surgery. METHODS: A total of 83 patients were included, separated into DN group and BC group. The operative and postoperative effects of the two groups were compared for the first 24 hours until extubation. The operative and postoperative complete blood count (CBC), biochemical values and clinical parameters were compared. RESULTS: The first control activated clotting time (ACT) levels in DN group patients were lower (P=0.003) during the operation. The amount of cardioplegia in DN group were lower than that in BC group (P=0.001). The pump outflow and postoperative lactate level of DN group were lower than those of BC group (P=0.005, P=0.018, respectively), as well as the amounts of NaHCO3 (P=0.006) and KCl (P=0.001) used during the operation. The same occurred with the first monocytes (Mo) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) levels in the postoperative intensive care unit (P=0.006, P=0.002). However, the first glucose level and the eosinophil (Eo) level were higher in DN group (P=0.011, P=0.047, respectively). CONCLUSION: In the operative evaluation, the amount of cardioplegia, the first ACT levels, the pump outflow lactate level and the amounts of NaHCO(3) and KCl in DN group were lower. In postoperative evaluation, measured level of lactate, Mo and MCV in DN group were all lower; their glucose and Eo levels were higher.