Retrograde cardioplegia: current methods.

Retrograde coronary sinus cardioplegia is being used for myocardial protection with ever-increasing frequency during complex cardiac operations. New methods for introducing cardioplegia into the coronary sinus have been facilitated by improved balloon-tipped catheters. Moreover, various solutions are being infused under both hypothermic and normothermic conditions with good results. This report provides background into the application of this technique and illustrates several methods for its daily use in clinical cardiac surgery.