Del Nido versus conventional blood cardioplegia in patients with combined aortic root surgery: A retrospective study

Objective This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of Del Nido cardioplegia (DNC) and conventional blood cardioplegia (CBC) in combined aortic surgery. Methods This retrospective study involved elective patients who underwent combined aortic root surgery between September 2017 and July 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: the DNC and the CBC group. The primary outcome was high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB levels at the 0, 1, 2, and three postoperative days. The secondary outcomes contained postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction, return to spontaneous rhythm after aortic de-clamping, postoperative myocardial infarction, new-onset atrial fibrillation, postoperative mechanical circulatory support, mechanical ventilation duration, intensive care unit stay, postoperative hospital stay, and the reduction of left ventricle end-diastolic diameter at 3 months after surgery. Results 223 patients were included and divided into the CBC ( n = 111) and the DNC group ( n = 112). There was no statistical difference in patients’ demographics and preoperative parameters between the two groups. No in-hospital mortality. The total cardioplegia volume [35.25 (30.30,43.65) ml/kg versus 21.43 (18.42,25.62) ml/kg, p < 0.001] and infusion times [2 (2,3) times versus 1 (1,2) times, p < 0.001] were less and the incidence of return to spontaneous rhythm after de-clamping was higher in the DNC group [59.5% versus 83%, p < 0.001]. Postoperative high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB levels were comparable between the two groups. DNC is related to a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay than CBC. The rate of return to spontaneous rhythm after aortic de-clamping seemed to decrease with the prolongation of aortic cross-clamping (ACC) duration, and there was no difference between the two groups when the time exceeded 120 min. Conclusions The safety and efficacy of using DNC were comparable to CBC in combined aortic surgery. The rate of return to spontaneous rhythm after aortic de-clamping seemed to decrease with the prolongation of ACC time. Further studies may be needed to fully elucidate the advantages of DNC in postoperative recovery and its long-term effects on patient outcomes.