First Argentine Experience with Del Nido Cardioplegia in Adults. Comparison with Buckberg Cardioplegia

Background: Traditionally, Buckberg cardioplegic solution is used for cardiovascular interventions in adult patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, whereas Del Nido solution is more commonly used in pediatric cardiac surgery. This is the firstArgentine report of Del Nido cardioplegia in adult patients.Methods: From November 2016 to March 2018, 267 cardiac surgeries were performed by the same surgical team in two cardiovascularsurgery centers. Among the total number of patients undergoing these surgeries, 50 received Del Nido cardioplegia(DN group) and were compared with a homogeneous group of 50 patients receiving Buckberg cardioplegia (BK group).Results: Average total operative, cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times (128.80 min, 70.83 min and 55 min,respectively, in the DN group, and 167.78 min, 80.7 min and 64.71min, in the BK group) were statistically significant betweengroups (p=0.001, p=0.0032 and p=0.0004, respectively). Comorbidities and type of valve surgery were similar in both groupsConclusions: Del Nido cardioplegia can be used in adult patients with excellent results, allowing to significantly shorten operative,aortic cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times, with all the benefits these lower times entail.