Background: This study tests the hypothesis that initial brief periods of ischemia could improve the protection obtained by intermittent aortic cross-clamping. Methods: In the control group (18), the procedure was performed under intermittent aortic cross-clamping at 32ºC. Patients in the preconditioned group (17) received a stimulus of two 3-min periods of cross-clamping followed by 2 min of reperfusion prior to standard operation. CKMB, troponin I, adenosine and lactate were obtained from the great cardiac vein at the onset of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (1), at the end of the first anastomosis (2) and at the end of CPB (3). Results: CKMB and troponin I presented a slight trend to be higher at the end of CPB in the control group, while there was no difference between adenosine and lactate levels. <img SRC="http:/img/fbpe/rbccv/v16n1/5182q2.gif"> Conclusion: Ischemic preconditioning showed no significant improvement in myocardial protection.
Isquemic preconditioning, myocardial; Myocardial revascularization; Aorta; Myocardial ischemia
