A comparison of UW cold storage solution and St. Thomas' solution II: a 31P NMR and functional study of isolated porcine hearts.

Although University of Wisconsin cold storage solution provides excellent preservation for the pancreas, the kidney, and the liver after extended cold ischemic storage, its ability to preserve the heart for extended cold storage periods is not yet proved. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of University of Wisconsin solution on heart preservation and to compare it to modified St. Thomas' solution II with respect to the capacity to preserve high-energy phosphates and contractile function in pig hearts. Hearts were arrested with either University of Wisconsin cold storage solution or St. Thomas' solution II (10 ml/kg) and kept ischemic at 12 degrees C or 4 degrees C for 8 hours. Functional recovery after the preservation period was assessed by means of ventricular function curves of the isovolumically contracting Langendorff model perfused with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution. Phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to monitor high-energy phosphates and intracellular pH during preservation and reperfusion. At 12 degrees C, hearts arrested and preserved with University of Wisconsin solution showed a rapid decrease in phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate. With St. Thomas' solution, phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate decreased slowly. Functional recovery was poorer with University of Wisconsin solution than with St. Thomas' solution. Hearts preserved at 4 degrees C with either solution showed no significant differences in high-energy phosphate content and functional recovery. Rigorous control of the low temperature (4 degrees C) is necessary when University of Wisconsin solution is used for heart preservation.