A pig model of chronic heart failure by intracoronary embolization with gelatin sponge.
BACKGROUND
We produced a large-animal model of left ventricular (LV) failure induced by transcatheter embolization of the left coronary artery using a gelatin sponge.


METHODS
Fourteen male pigs underwent transcatheter embolization of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) using gelatin sponge to produce anteroapical myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography was performed 1 week after the coronary embolization. The animals were followed up with echocardiography and LV pressure-volume study for the subsequent 8 weeks, and the data were compared with those of the control group (n = 13).


RESULTS
The procedure mortality was 2 of 14 (14%). Coronary angiography revealed the occluded LAD was recanalized with poor run-off. The LV end-diastolic dimension progressively increased (control versus myocardial infarction: 39 +/- 2 mm versus 49 +/- 4 mm, p < 0.001 at week 4; and 40 +/- 2 mm versus 57 +/- 6 mm, p < 0.001 at week 8). Fractional area change decreased over 8 weeks (77% +/- 10% versus 43% +/- 6%, p < 0.001 at week 4; and 77% +/- 10% versus 40% +/- 8%, p < 0.001 at week 8). End-systolic elastance progressively decreased over 8 weeks (3.04 +/- 0.73 mm Hg/mL versus 1.54 +/- 0.51 mm Hg/mL, p < 0.0001 at week 4; and 2.88 +/- 0.44 mm Hg/mL versus 1.05 +/- 0.21 mm Hg/mL, p < 0.001 at week 8). The plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide were significantly higher in the study group (543 +/- 131 pg/mL versus 1,321 +/- 364 pg/mL, p < 0.001 at week 4; and 610 +/- 152 pg/mL versus 1,523 +/- 232 pg/mL, p < 0.001 at week 8).


CONCLUSIONS
This pig model of chronic heart failure is reliable, reproducible, and amenable to investigate other surgical procedures.
Sakaguchi
Genichi
G
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Sakakibara
Yutaka
Y
Tambara
Keiichi
K
Lu
Fanglin
F
Premaratne
Goditha
G
Nishimura
Kazunobu
K
Komeda
Masashi
M
D000818:Animals; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004617:Embolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology