Treadmill exercise in calves implanted with the AbioCor replacement heart.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of the AbioCor artificial heart implanted in calves that underwent treadmill exercise testing and to investigate the cardiovascular and metabolic responses during exercise. Six calves were implanted with the AbioCor. One week after surgery, exercise training was undertaken and animals were put on a treadmill at a speed of 0.5-1.0 mph, with the AbioCor operating at the maximum heart rate of 150 beats per minute. During exercise, the left and right atrial pressures were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Oxygen consumption was significantly elevated (p < 0.05). Lactate levels did not significantly increase (p > 0.05). The index of metabolic adequacy remained higher than 2.0, indicating that there was no substantial transition to anaerobic metabolism during exercise. There was an increased extraction of oxygen during exercise to meet the increased energy demands. Our study demonstrated that animals implanted with the AbioCor heart were able to maintain aerobic metabolism during low levels of exercise testing.
Chiang
Benjamin B
BB
Jewish Hospital Heart and Lung Institute, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 500 S. Floyd Street, SB08, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Pantalos
George M
GM
Cerrito
Patricia
P
Stevens
Karla
K
Lott
Karen
K
Lott
Laura
L
Etoch
Steven
S
Gray
Laman A
LA
Dowling
Robert D
RD
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002417:Cattle; D005080:Exercise Test; D006354:Heart, Artificial; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion
D019344:Lactic Acid