An improved technique of atrial, retrograde cardioplegy is presented where the pulmonary artery trunk and the ascending aorta were snared with a tape passing behind both vessels through the transverse sinus of the pericardium. The pulmonary artery occlusion was controlled by the tourniquet avoiding its surgical isolation from the ascending aorta. With both venae cavae snared, blood / potassium (25 mEq/l) continuous cardioplegy was delivered through a catheter inserted in the right atrium ; the coronary ostia were directly perfused at 20 / 30 min intervals. Five patients were submitted to surgical procedures in the aortic root (Bental - De Bonno surgery, 1 case; aortic valve replacement, 3 cases; aortic valve replacement associated with surgical correction of aneurysm in the right coronary artery and ascending aorta, 1 case. The aorta crossclamp time ranged from 80 - 180 min. (mean 107.8 min.). All patients weaned from by-pass with haemodynamic autonomy. Immediate and in hospital post-operative recovery was normal . All patients were discharged in good clinical conditions.
Heart arrest; Heart arrest; Aorta
