title: An ovine model of chronic stable heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic stable large animal models of heart failure are difficult to establish. We report an ovine model of chronic stable heart failure achieved by a technique of repetitive myocardial infarctions (one of the most common causes of cardiac failure) with catheter-based techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ejection fraction (EF) was assessed by echocardiography. A perfusion catheter was positioned in either the left anterior descending or circumflex artery by using standard angioplasty techniques. Myocardial infarction was induced by a Gelfoam embolism via this catheter and was confirmed by electrocardiographic (ECG) changes and new segmental abnormalities. The procedure was repeated at 2 weekly intervals until the EF was less than 40%. Target EF was achieved in 15 animals, with a mean of 3.4 embolizations (range 2 to 8). Baseline EF was 68%, with a mean final EF of 33%. This resulted in a 54% reduction in EF (range 44% to 68%) from baseline values. Two animals developed late symptomatic heart failure and died, whereas EF was stable at 3-month follow-up echocardiography in the remaining animals with no significant spontaneous improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic stable heart failure can be established in sheep with catheter-based skills and a microembolization technique that causes repetitive myocardial infarctions.
authors.affiliation: Waikato Academic Division, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conaglen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bass
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004452:Echocardiography; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D012756:Sheep; D013318:Stroke Volume