Objective:To compare the effects of intermittent cold blood cardioplegin, continuous cold blood cardioplegin and continuous warm blood cardioplegin on the recovery of cardiac performance using the cat cardiopulmonary bypass, after longtime cardiac arrest. Methods:twenty-four cats weighting 3-3.5 kg were divided at random into 4 groups. Hearts in group Ⅰ were not subjected to ischemic arrest, hearts in group Ⅱprotected with intermittent cold blood cardioplegia, hearts in group Ⅲ with continuous cold blood cardioplegia, hearts in group Ⅳ with continuous warm blood cardioplegia. After 180 min cardiac arrest, all hearts were reperfused for 60 min. Results:the cardiac perfomance was significantly reduced in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ, especially in group Ⅱ protected with intermittent cold blood cardioplegia, and kept almost normal in group Ⅳ with continuous warm blood cardioplegia. LDH-1 and MDA content rose to a higher level in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ after reperfusion, but almost normal in group Ⅳ protected with continuous warm blood cardioplegia. Conclusion: Our data indicate that the method of continuous warm blood cardioplegia is safe and effective and represents a new conceptual approach to maintaining excellent myocardial preservation during cardiac arrest. It can enhance the recovery of cardiac performance after reperfusion