Organ arrest, protection and preservation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for arresting, protecting and/or preserving an organ which includes administering effective amounts of (i) a potassium channel opener or agonist and/or an adenosine receptor agonist and (ii) local anaesthetic to a subject in need thereof. The present invention also relates to a method for arresting, protecting and/or preserving an organ which comprises adding a composition which includes effective amounts of (i) a potassium channel opener or agonist and/or an adenosine receptor agonist and (ii) a local anaesthetic to the organ. The present invention further provides a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition which includes effective amounts of (i) a potassium channel opener or agonist and/or an adenosine receptor agonist and (ii) a local anaesthetic.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A composition comprising:
 a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;   a compound chosen from the group consisting of a potassium channel opener, a potassium channel agonist and an adenosine receptor agonist;   a local anesthetic;   wherein the compound and the local anesthetic are present in the composition in an amount sufficient to arrest an organ of a subject; and   wherein the subject is a neonate/infant.   
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the potassium channel opener, potassium channel agonist or adenosine receptor agonist is adenosine. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the concentration of adenosine is about 0.01 to about 10 mM. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the local anesthetic is lignocaine. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the concentration of lignocaine is about 0.01 to about 10 mM. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises magnesium having a concentration of about 20 mM. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the local anesthetic is lignocaine. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the concentration of adenosine is about 0.01 to about 5 mg/min/kg, and the concentration of lignocaine is about 0.01 to about 10 mg/min/kg. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the concentration of adenosine is about 0.01 to about 10 mM, and the concentration of lignocaine is about 0.01 to about 10 mM. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the concentration of adenosine is about 0.05 to about 5 mM, and the concentration of lignocaine is about 0.05 to about 5 mM. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises magnesium having a concentration of about 20 mM. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 28 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier includes potassium at a concentration of less than about 10 mM. 
     
     
         30 . A method of arresting an organ of a subject including the step of contacting the organ with an effective amount of a composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the subject is a neonate/infant. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the organ is a heart and the heart is arrested during open-heart surgery. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising preserving and/or protecting the heart with the composition. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the potassium channel opener, potassium channel agonist or adenosine receptor agonist is adenosine. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the concentration of adenosine is about 0.01 to about 10 mM. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the local anesthetic is lignocaine. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the concentration of lignocaine is about 0.01 to about 10 mM. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the local anesthetic is lignocaine. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the concentration of adenosine is about 0.01 to about 10 mM, and the concentration of lignocaine is about 0.01 to about 10 mM. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the concentration of adenosine is about 0.05 to about 5 mM, and the concentration of lignocaine is about 0.05 to about 5 mM. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the concentration of adenosine is about 0.01 to about 5 mg/min/kg, and the concentration of lignocaine is about 0.01 to about 10 mg/min/kg. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises magnesium having a concentration of about 20 mM. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier includes potassium at a concentration of less than about 10 mM.