Simplified method of heterotopic cardiac transplantation for left ventricular assist.
A method of heterotopic cardiac transplantation has been developed which is performed through a left thoracotomy and requires only two vascular anastomoses. Systemic heparinization and cardiopulmonary bypass are not necessary. Preliminary experiments demonstrated that this heterotopic transplant technique was effective for left ventricular assist; in some experiments, a multimode atrioventricular programmable pacemaker was used to provide sequential pacing for "counterpulsation." This technique or similar techniques may have potential clinical benefit for patients with intractable left ventricular failure.
D000818:Animals; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004285:Dogs; D006339:Heart Rate; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013599:Systole; D014180:Transplantation / Q000379:methods*