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Definition

noun

The irreversible contraction of the left ventricle of the heart as an adverse reaction during open-heart surgery.

Supplement

This condition can now be prevented by infusing cold crystalloid cardioplegic solution into the coronary circulation (to prevent heart tissue damage) while a systemic circuit is oxygenating blood and reinfusing blood into a patient's body (via the heart-lung machine) during heart surgery.

Synonyms:

• myocardial rigor mortis
• stone heart syndrome