title: A new approach to assist postoperative heart failure in an animal model: juxta-aortic counterpulsation.
abstract: Aortic counterpulsation is a useful technique frequently used in postcardiotomy heart failure. An acute heart failure model in open chest sheep was chosen to evaluate hemodynamic improvement with a counterpulsation balloon pump in juxta-aortic position. This was achieved with a manufactured Dacron prosthesis and a balloon pump placed between the prosthesis and the aorta. Juxta-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation in acute experimental heart failure resulted in a significant improvement of hemodynamic parameters: increase of cardiac output (from 0.86 +/- 0.04 to 1.29 +/- 0.09 L/min, p < 0.05) and cardiac index (from 0.03 +/- 0.01 to 0.04 +/- 0.01 L/min per kg, p < 0.05), and decrease of systemic vascular resistance (from 89.76 +/- 6.69 to 66.56 +/- 6.02 mm Hg/L per min, p < 0.05). The extent of aortic diastolic pressure change evaluated through the diastolic and systolic areas beneath the aortic pressure curve (DABAC/SABAC) index before cardiac failure induction showed a significant increase compared with unassisted values (from 0.81 +/- 0.10 to 1.12 +/- 0.09, p < 0.05). Assisted values of DABAC/SABAC index after heart failure induction also showed a significant increase compared with unassisted values (from 0.78 +/- 0.21 to 1.17 +/- 0.38, p < 0.05). Treatment of experimental acute heart failure by juxta-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation allows an effective hemodynamic improvement in open chest sheep.
authors.affiliation: Basic Sciences Research Institute, Favaloro University, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina. fischer@favaloro.edu.ar
authors.forename: Edmundo I Cabrera
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Alejandra I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Christen
authors.forename: Marcelo R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Risk
authors.forename: Franco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Pessana
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Forteza
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000379:methods*; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates