The Effect of Nitroglycerin Infusion Rate on Cerebral Rewarming During Hypothermic Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-11-22
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Glyceryl trinitrate is used in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. This surgery
frequently employs hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, where the whole body is cooled down to
28-32 °C to arrest the heart, and protect the organs from ischemic insult. When the cardiac
repair or grafting is done, the body is warmed to 37 °C. During this "rewarming period", the
heart has to beat against the vessels, all of which are constricted due to hypothermia.
To overcome this constriction of the vessels, and decrease the workload of the heart,
glyceryl trinitrate is infused. This drug causes significant dilatation in arteries and
veins, which allows the heart to pump the blood with less force. The dilatation of the
vessels also allows the body to rewarm more easily.
The investigators' concern is whether increased infusion rates of glyceryl trinitrate may
cause uncontrolled rewarming of the brain or not. The investigators will measure the
temperature of the brain using a temperature probe located in the nasal cavity. The
temperature will be recorded at each minute during the the rewarming period. Results of two
commonly used infusion rates of glyceryl trinitrate will be compared.