Safety of intracoronary iopromide solution for experimental pharmaco-cold ex vivo preservation of donor heart

Objective: To evaluate the effect of intracoronary iopromide (Ultravist®, Bayer, AG, Leverkusen, Germany) during pharmaco-cold ex vivo preservation of a donor heart on the restoration of heart pumping function and cardiomyocyte metabolism in the early post-transplant period. Methods: Black-and-white calves aged 3 months were used as an experimental model. In the control group, pharmaco-cold preservation of the donor heart was performed by injecting 2 liters of custodiol (Custodiol®, Dr. Franz Köhler Chemie GmbH, Bensheim, Germany) into the aortic root. The hearts were then stored in an appropriate solution at 0 to 1°C for 2 hours. In the experimental group (n = 6), a solution of iopromide and custodiol were injected into the aortic root at a ratio of 50:50 under a pressure of 70-80 mm Hg for 5 minutes after 120 minutes of preservation. Then the coronary bed was washed with 1 liter of custodiol at a pressure of 40 mm Hg and orthotopic heart transplantation was performed. In the post-transplant period, the parameters of central hemodynamics, myocardial oxygen consumption, and the levels of myocardial ischemia markers (troponin I, creatine phosphokinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase) were assessed. Results: Twelve orthotopic heart transplantations were performed during the study. In 120 minutes after the restoration of spontaneous cardiac activity, the level of cardiac output was 5.11 [4.99; 5.41] L/min and 5.77 [4.97; 6.62] L/min (p = 0.0009) in the control and experimental groups, respectively. Changes in the concentration of lactate dehydrogenase, troponin I and lactate in the blood flowing from the coronary sinus were significantly higher in the early reperfusion period. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups (p > 0.05). Myocardial oxygen consumption was significantly reduced at reperfusion. However, the initial values were restored by reperfusion minute 60 without any significant intergroup difference (p > 0.05). Conclusion: We established the safety of intracoronary iopromide administration for pharmaco-cold ex vivo preservation of the donor heart. Intracoronary administration of iopromide solution does not affect the restoration of the pumping function of the heart or metabolism in cardiomyocytes in the early post-transplant period.