Myocardial Preservation During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery often incur myocardial injury during the perioperative period. The greatest risk of injury occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass. Common strategies to prevent myocardial damage during bypass focus on minimizing oxygen demand: cardioplegia, left ventricle venting, and intentional hypothermia. Optimization of myocardial oxygen supply and demand during weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass also help prevent myocardial injury.