Endothelial cell damage following crystalloid cardioplegic solution infusion. Scanning electron microscope study of coronary bypass grafts
A. L. Harjula, S. Mattila, A. Jarvinen, H. Myllarniemi and M. Salmenpera
Scanning electron microscope studies of coronary bypass grafts were carried
out in six routine bypass operations. Infusion of the initial crystalloid
cardioplegic medium into the aortic root after aortic cross clamping was
performed in every case. In two cases, pieces of aorta below and above the
cross-clamped site, le, having and not having had contact with the
crystalloid cardioplegic medium, were studied. The endothelial lining of
the veins showed normal structure following distention with blood.
Following infusion with a crystalloid cardioplegic solution, the
endothelial cells had almost completely vanished and the flow surface was
composed mainly of collagen fibers. The aortic samples taken from below the
cross-clamp site showed similar destruction of the endothelium that was
observed in vein grafts after crystalloid cardioplegic solution infusion,
whereas the aortic samples taken from above the cross-clamp site disclosed
normal endothelium.
