Objective To investigate whether single cycle ischemic preconditioning （IP） improves the myocardial preservation in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement. Methods From August 2002 to April 2006, 85 patients who had chronic heart valve disease and required cardiac valve replacement were randomly divided into two groups. IP group, 47 allocated to receive IP and arrested with 4 C St. Thomas＇ Hospital cardioplegic solution during cardiopulmonary bypass（CPB）, preconditioning was accomplished by using single cycle of 2 minutes occlusion of aorta followed by 3 minutes of reperfusion before cross-clamping. Control group, 38 allocated to receive 4 C St. Thomas＇ Hospital cardioplegic solution alone. Myocardial protective effects were assessed by determinations of creatinine kinase-MB isoenzyme （CK-MB） and cardiac troponin I（cTnI）, ST-T changes, ventricular arrhythmias and other clinical data in ICU. Results Serum CK-MB and cTnI concentrations were increased postoperatively in two groups. At 24, 48 and 72h after operation, values of CK-MB in IP group was significantly lower than that in control group （P〈0.05）, cTnI at 24 and 48h after operation also less in IP group （P〈0.05）. The duration for patients needed for antiarrhythmic drugs in IP group was lower than that in control group （P〈0.05）. Compared with control group, fewer inotropic drugs were used in IP group. As a result, ICU stay time in IP group was shorter than that in control group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion IP enhances the myocardial protective effect when it was used with hypothermic hyper kalemic cardioplegic solution in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement, IP significantly reduces the postoperative increase of CK-MB, cTnI and plessens the severity of postoperative ventricular arrhythmias.