162 N . Kachoueian et al .: J Extra Corpor Technol 2024 , 56 , 159 – 166
Figure 1 . CONSORT flow diagram depicting the process of patient screening , recruitment , and study flow .
requirements did not differ significantly between the two groups . We also are reporting for the first time that the need for inotrope administration ( epinephrine ) in the operation room was higher in the patients receiving LR DN rather than PL DN .
In a study by Surabhi et al ., a comparison was made between Ringer ’ s lactate and Plasma-Lyte A as priming solutions in CPB , and it was found that the latter was a superior solution associated with a lower incidence of metabolic acidosis [ 13 ]. The researchers reported significantly higher levels of circulatory lactate during and after the operation , as well as 30 min after ICU admission , in the modified DN group compared to the conventional DN group . Similar outcomes were observed in the current study at the postoperative time point , although the differences diminished following ICU admission , likely due to the lower volume of cardioplegia solution used in comparison to the total prime volume reported in the study by Surabhi et al . Furthermore , no differences in systemic acidosis were observed , possibly because the volume of cardioplegia solution used was relatively small compared to the total circulatory volume . Kantathut et al . conducted a study comparing the outcomes of using del Nido cardioplegia with Ringer ’ s lactate as the base solution vs . blood cardioplegia for cardiac protection [ 12 ]. Their findings revealed that the use of the modified DN solution was associated with shorter ICU stays and hospitalizations , as well as a reduced need for vasopressor and inotropic support compared to blood cardioplegia . They also reported a lower incidence of intraoperative atrial fibrillation . Worth noting is that unlike the present study , Kantathut et al . did not compare