(385) - Initial Reperfusion With a Hypocalcemic Cardioplegia Improves the Functional Recovery of DCD Hearts During Ex Vivo Heart Perfusion

Abstract

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) hearts may be an alternative source of donor organs; however, they experience significant ischemia during the hypoxemic cardiac arrest and warm-ischemic standoff period that ethically define death. Initial reperfusion (IR) during procurement causes intracellular calcium overload that contributes prominently to the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury. IR with a hypocalcemic cardioplegia may minimize calcium overload and optimize functional recovery. We sought to investigate the impact of IR calcium concentration on the functional recovery of DCD hearts during ex vivo heart perfusion (EVHP).