Skeletal muscle ventricles: full versus half aortic ligation.
BACKGROUND
Skeletal muscle ventricles have been shown to provide effective aortic diastolic counterpulsation in an experimental model. Construction has included full ligation of the thoracic aorta. The authors sought to determine if these muscle pumps could function effectively without fully ligating the aorta.


METHODS
Skeletal muscle ventricles were constructed in two groups of dogs. Group 1 had their aortas fully ligated (n = 10) while group 2 had their aortas narrowed by 50% (n = 10). The animals were followed for 10 weeks.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in femoral diastolic augmentation at implant or at 10 weeks (19.1% +/- 9.9% in group 1 [full ligation] versus 16.3% +/- 10.2% in group 2 [half ligation] p = 0.502). Survival to 10 weeks was significantly better in group 1 (full ligation). Nine of 10 animals in this group survived versus 4 of 10 in group 2 (p = 0.019). Two animals survived in the half ligation group with effective augmentation and without thrombus formation.


CONCLUSIONS
Both models produce effective diastolic counterpulsation. Survival was decreased in this model using half ligation, and survival without complication was observed in 2 of 10 animals. Currently the overall results are better with the full aortic ligation model. However, design modifications will probably result in an effective model of diastolic counterpulsation without full aortic ligation.
Greer
K
K
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Lu
H
H
Hammond
R
R
Bastian
S
S
Vanderheide
R
R
Stephenson
L
L
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D002423:Cause of Death; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015908:Counterpulsation / Q000379:methods; D003971:Diastole; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D012421:Rupture; D019739:Skeletal Muscle Ventricle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology