title: Alternative approach for right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device placement in animal model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is associated with high mortality. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an atrial septostomy with a membrane oxygenator incorporated in an LVAD as a novel approach for right ventricular failure after LVAD implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The outflow and inflow cannulae were placed in the carotid artery and left ventricular apex, respectively. A centrifugal pump and an oxygenator were sequentially placed between the inflow and outflow cannulae in seven anesthetized goats. While right ventricular failure was induced by pulmonary artery banding, a balloon atrial septostomy was performed using a 19-mm balloon catheter under echocardiographic guidance. We investigated the effects of the interatrial shunt on LVAD flow and haemodynamics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Development of right ventricular failure decreased LVAD flow (2.7 ± 0.6-0.9 ± 0.6 l/min), causing a state of shock [mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 41 ± 12 mmHg]. Following a balloon atrial septostomy, LVAD flow and MAP were significantly improved to 2.7 ± 0.4 l/min (P < 0.001) and 53 ± 18 mmHg (P = 0.006), respectively, while right atrial pressure decreased from 18 ± 5 to 15 ± 5 mmHg (P = 0.001). Furthermore, arterial blood oxygenation was maintained by the membrane oxygenator incorporated in the LVAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present model of right ventricular failure after LVAD implantation, LVAD flow was significantly increased and haemodynamics improved without compromising systemic oxygenation by the use of an interatrial shunt and a membrane oxygenator incorporated in the LVAD. Our results indicate that this novel approach may be less invasive for a right ventricular failure after LVAD implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Artificial Organs, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan ktoda2002@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.affiliation: Department of Artificial Organs, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takewa
authors.affiliation: Department of Artificial Organs, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsukiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Artificial Organs, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.affiliation: Department of Artificial Organs, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taenaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Artificial Organs, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Eisuke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D006041:Goats / Q000601:surgery; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000601:surgery*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Animal model; Circulatory assist device; Heart failure; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation