Ventricular Assistance by Right Free Wall Dynamic Cardiomyoplasty Following Acute Right Heart Failure in Canines

Abstract

The efficacy of right ventricular assistance provided by electrically conditioned skeletal muscle was studied in 17 canines. The right ventricular free wall was made ischemic and akinetic by ligating all coronary branches supplying it. The latter procedure led to deterioration of hemodynamic parameters. After that, 14 canines were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 8) was observed without cardiomyoplasty for 2 hours; group 2 (n = 6) underwent right ventricular dynamic cardiomyoplasty with the conditioned left latissimus dorsi. The deterioration in hemodynamic parameters in group 1 showed no further significant change during the period of observation. In group 2, right ventricular function was augmented by cardiomyoplasty, as shown by a significant increase in right ventricular and pulmonary artery pressures. In addition, decreased CVP suggested improved right ventricle (RV) filling. Right ventricular function curves obtained by volume loading in a further group of three canines, group 3, also demonstrated improved right ventricular function. Thus right ventricular dynamic cardiomyoplasty appears to contribute significantly to right ventricular function in a model of acute right heart failure.