ATP, Creatine Phosphate and Glycogen Content in Human Myocardial Biopsies: Markers for the Efficacy of Cardioprotection During Aorto-Coronary Bypass Surgery

Abstract

Measurements of the myocardial content of ATP, creatine phosphate and glycogen provide a sensitive marker of the effect of inevitably global ischemia on myocardial tissue during aorto-coronary bypass surgery and give insight in the efficacy of various cardioprotective techniques. Continuous aortic cross clamping for performance of the distal anastomoses with multidose St. Thomas cardioplegia did not result in significant changes in the myocardial ATP, creatine phosphate and glycogen content. In contrast, hypothermic intermittent crossclamping resulted in a significant reduced tissue content of these markers of myocardial ischemia.