Heart Surgery

Heart surgery involves the surgical treatment of diseases of the heart and the blood vessels surrounding it. In many heart surgery procedures, the heart is stopped in a controlled manner so that the operation can be performed safely and under controlled conditions. During this phase, the heart muscle needs to be given special protection, as its normal blood flow and oxygen supply are temporarily interrupted.

Important factors for successfully protecting the heart include the following:

• Protection of the heart muscle (myocardium) during surgery
• Minimization of the damage caused by oxygen deprivation and the subsequent restoration of blood flow
• Support for the rapid recovery of heart function after the procedure

The solutions used to stop the heart in a controlled manner (so-called cardioplegic solutions) have to meet various requirements: They need to provide a sufficiently long-lasting and safe protective effect, be flexible in application, and be suitable for both routine procedures and more complex cases—such as those involving children or patients with impaired heart function.