OBJECTIVESTo compare the cardioprotection effect between blood and crystalloid cardioplegia during cardiac surgery in adult patients, and provide a theoretical basis for optimal myocardial protection strategies.

METHODSA meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) studies about comparing blood and crystalloid cardioplegia in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery were performed. Cochrane library (Issue 3, 2011), MEDLINE, EMBase, PubMed, HighWire, CBM and CNKI were searched from January 1985 to December 2011. Studies were assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook for systematic reviews. Data were extracted from these trials and analyzed by RevMan5.1 software.

RESULTSSixteen trials involved 3934 patients were included, 2004 cases were in blood group, and 1930 were in crystalloid group. There was no statistical heterogeneity between studies using a fixed effects model. Meta-analysis indicated that, there were no significant differences between blood and crystalloid group in the incidence of postoperative 30 days mortality (OR = 1.11, 95%CI: 0.59 - 2.08, P = 0.74), the incidence of postoperative low cardiac output (OR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.41 - 2.33, P = 0.85), the incidence of perioperative myocardial infarctions (OR = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.55 - 1.29, P = 0.44), and inotropic support requirement (OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 0.81 - 1.38, P = 0.70).

CONCLUSIONThe blood cardioplegia is no difference with crystalloid cardioplegia in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery.