Ischemic postconditioning of the myocardium: a new method of heart protection against reperfusion damage

摘要

AIM: To examine effects of ischemic postconditioning on persistent ventricular fibrillation (VF) induced by reperfusion on the model of isolated rat heart. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Isolated by Langendorf hearts (n = 46) were ischemized for 30 min with following reperfusion. Hearts with persisting VF (n = 11) persisting to reperfusion minute 15 were randomized into two groups: control (n = 6)--reperfusion without interventions, study group on postconditioning (n = 5)--2 min global ischemia followed by reperfusion. Left ventricular pressure, heart rate, coronary blood flow were registered continuously. RESULTS: VF converted to a regular rhythm in all the hearts exposed to postconditioning. Regular contractions were made by all the postconditioned hearts in the course of further reperfusion. None of the control hearts had normal rhythm in the end of the experiment. In the end of reperfusion pulse left ventricular pressure of the postconditioned hearts was lower than that in hearts without persistent VF. CONCLUSION: Ischemic postconditioining exerts an arrhythmic effect in relation to persistent reperfusion ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Postconditioning may serve a new strategy for myocardial protection.