In this study, it has been tested the effectiveness of terminal warm blood cardioplegia (TWBC) to prevent reperfusion injury in open heart operations.

In respect of clinical, hemodinamic and biochemical parameters, we have compared two groups of coronary bypass patients (each group includes ten patients) who have normal ventricul function and similar preoperative and peroperative conditions (age, weight, CPB and ischemic time i.e.). In group I which we have used TWBC, all of the patients have restored sinus rythm spontaneously after aortic unclamping, while 8 patients in group II which we have not used TWBC have had ventricular fibrillation in the same period. Also, 4 patients have required inotropik support (moderate dose of dopamin) in the early postoperative period in contrast to group I which none of patients required inotropic support. In group II patients, whe have observed significant decreases in cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI) and left ventircular stroke work index (LVSWI) values in the early postoperative period, especially in the first two hours. But, there were no changes in these values in group I (TWBC) patients, even we have noticed that CI and LVSWI values in group I (TWBC) patients, even we have noticed that CI and LVSWI values increased slowly but significantly after sixth hour postoperatively, possibly due to positive effect of patients according to postoperative left ventricular performance (P 0.001). In the other hand, group II patients have had higher enzym levels (CPK, CPK-MB and SGOT) than group I patients at the 18th hour of postoperative period. According to these results, it has been concluded that TWBC is effective to prevent reperfusion injury and provides better hemodynamic performance after open heart operations.