Tissue maintenance

Abstract

The invention provides a method of reducing damage to a tissue, organ or cell from surgical procedures comprising administering a composition comprising a potassium channel opener/agonist and/or an adenosine receptor agonist (eg. adenosine) together with a local anaesthetic (eg. lignocaine) when perfusing the organ.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing damage to a tissue, organ or cell from periods of reduced activity comprising administering when reperfusing the organ during the recovery phase an additive composition comprising a potassium channel opener/agonist and/or an adenosine receptor agonist, together with a local anaesthetic. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition further includes elevated magnesium cations in an amount of from about 0.5 mM to about 20 mM. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition is heated to a temperature of from about 32° C. to about 37° C. before administration. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the reduced activity is medically induced. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising administering the additive composition while perfusing the organ during a quiescent state. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the organ is a heart and the reduced activity is cardioplegic arrest. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition comprises a potassium concentration of less than about 10 mM. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the potassium channel opener/agonist is adenosine and the local anaesthetic is lignocaine. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the additive composition comprises adenosine, magnesium cations and lignocaine. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the damage to a tissue organ, or cell comprises post-operative fibrillation that occurs following a heart procedure. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising reanimating the tissue, organ or cell.