Sani Konukoğlu Tıp Merkezi, Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Kliniği, Gaziantep

Background: The eligibility of lidocaine to provide topical vasodilatation for the preparation of the internal thoracic artery (ITA) and its possible superiority to papaverine was assessed in the present study. Methods: Eighty patients (63 men, 17 women; mean age 58.6 years; range 39 to 71 years) undergoing elective coronary bypass during 2004 were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 received papaverine as topical vasodilatator and group 2 received 2% lidocaine HCl. One minute flow in the ITA flow was measured immediately after the preparation of ITA and after topical vasodilatation just before the start of cardiopulmonary bypass in both groups. The ITA flow rates were compared in both groups. Results: The ITA flow rates increased significantly after topical vasodilatation in both groups (p<0.05). But the difference between the two groups was not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that, lidocaine HCl is as effective as the topical vasodilating agent papaverine, against the vasospasm during the preparative phase of the ITA.