The Annals of thoracic surgery
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We previously demonstrated that continuous perfusion of cardiac allografts during hypothermic storage with donor blood harvested at the time of organ retrieval improves myocardial recovery after transplantation. However, myocardial metabolism and function remain depressed compared to base line values. This study evaluated the use of a continuous infusion of donor blood enhanced with insulin to augment aerobic myocardial metabolism during and after hypothermic storage. ⋯ In this model, continuous perfusion of cardiac allografts with donor blood and insulin preserves myocardial metabolism during hypothermic storage and improves metabolic and functional recovery after orthotopic cardiac transplantation.