Background: Activated neutrophils have been implicated in reperfusion injury of the myocardium; leukocyte depletion at the time of reperfusion may contribute to better myocardial protection after cardiac surgery. In the present study, we examined whether leukocyte depletion as an adjunct to terminal blood cardioplegia attenuates reperfusion injury.
Methods: Porcine hearts that had undergone 60 minutes of normothermic ischemia with cardioplegia and 60 minutes of reperfusion under cardiopulmonary bypass were divided into four groups according to the methods of 15 min of controlled initial reperfusion: whole blood reperfusion (n = 6), leukocyte-depleted reperfusion (n = 6), secondary blood cardioplegia (n = 6) and leukocyte-depleted secondary blood cardioplegia (n = 6). At 60 min of reperfusion, hemodynamic recovery, release of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker for free oxygen radicals, CK-MB-isoenzyme from the coronary sinus, recovery of adenosine triphosphate, and myocardial water content were evaluated.
Results: The group with leukocyte-depleted secondary blood cardioplegia showed the best hemodynamic recovery (Emax and total dp/dt), lowest levels of MDA, CK-MB and myocardial water content, and highest adenosine triphosphate recovery.
Conclusions: These results suggest that controlled reperfusion with leukocyte-depleted secondary blood cardioplegia attenuated severe damage of the myocardium as compared to whole blood reperfusion.