Cardioplegia with blood: Kirov surgeons perform operations on patients in serious condition

In the Kirov Regional Clinical Hospital during coronary artery bypass surgery, blood cardioplegia is increasingly used. This approach makes it possible to stop the heart during the operation and at the same time preserve the myocardium as much as possible. Every year, about 450 such operations are performed at COKB - with the use of an artificial circulatory apparatus and a temporary cessation of the activity of the heart muscle.

The essence of the technique is that the blood mixture of the patient himself, enriched with special components, is introduced into the coronary bed. This is closer to natural conditions than standard solutions, but more technically difficult. It is for this reason that the technology was introduced gradually: in 2023 twelve operations were performed, in 2024 - about sixty, in 2025 - more than a hundred, and in 2026 - more than 250. In 2025, for the first time, the myocardium was protected with the blood of the patient himself during the application of three shunts. To date, the technique is also used in the case of the most severe option - the defeat of many vessels.

A whole team is responsible for cardioplegia. The cardiac surgeon chooses how and when to serve the solution, the perfusiologist assembles the artificial circulation apparatus, prepares the mixture and maintains the temperature, and the anesthesiologist-resuscitator monitors anesthesia, pressure, rhythm and oxygen. The patient urgent tests are taken repeatedly.

Chief physician Vadim Ralnikov noted: the development of cardioplegia on the blood during multivascular bypass surgery indicates that cardiac surgery in the region is developing, and corresponds to the tasks of the national project Active and long life.