The Effect of Calcium Perfusion on the Hypothermic Patients Under Halothane Anesthesia

Since the introduction of extracorporeal circulation for cardiac surgery, interest in the anesthegiological management of extracorporeal hypothermia has greatly increased.Numerous investigations have been conducted in order to determine the various problems of the hypothermic patients who may be subjected to marked regional temperature gradients as rapid cooling proceeds. However, it has not been clarified as to the mechanism and clinical significance associated with the development of regional temperature differences.This investigation was undertaken in order to delineate the mechanism on the development of the regional temperature differences during extracorporeal cooling under halothane anesthesia, and the role of exogenous calcium on such a hypothermic status.This report is based on our experience with thirty six cases of atrial septal defect, carefully selected from a total of eighty seven of congenital and acquired cardiac diseases, which required open cardiac operations within the past two years. A combination of extracorporeal circulation which was primed with heparinized blood and 10ml/kg of low molecular weight dextran (Rheomacrodex) at moderately low flow rates (40 to 50ml. per kilogramm of body weight per minute) and hypothermia due to rapid cooling were used.