Figure 1. (Left) Illustration of a representative set of systolic and diastolic pressure-volume data (patient 13). Data are shown at time 0 (open squares), time 5 (open triangles), and time 10 (open circles). From time 0 to time 10, the systolic pressure-volume relation becomes steeper, whereas the diastolic pressure-volume relation shifts downward, confirming a rapid improvement of systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) function. (Right) Mean data (+/- SEM) on systolic (Ees) and diastolic (Kc) function at the different times of measurement (before the start of cardiopulmonary bypass [CPB] (Baseline); immediately after separation from CPB [time 0]; and 5 min [time 5], 10 min [time 10], and 15 min [time 15] later). Data of two study groups are shown. In Group A (open squares), coronary bypass grafting was performed using intermittent aortic cross-clamping under cardioprotection with the nucleoside transport inhibitor lidoflazine. In Group B (open circles), patients were operated on using continuous aortic cross-clamping under cardioprotection with Bretschneider cardioplegic solution (Group B). In both groups, Ees was decreased and Kc was increased after separation from CPB. These values returned progressively to baseline within 10 min after separation from CPB. The evolution of Ees and Kc was similar in both groups. *Difference from baseline is statistically significant at P < 0.01 in both groups.