HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Gregory A. Thomas Larry W. Stephenson Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Thomas, G. A. Articles by Stephenson, L. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Thomas, G. A. Articles by Stephenson, L. W.

Ann Thorac Surg 1996;61:430-436
© 1996 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Dynamic Myoplasty

Skeletal Muscle Ventricles in Circulation: Decreased Incidence of Rupture

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

Abstract

Background. Skeletal muscle ventricles (SMVs) are muscular pumping chambers constructed for cardiac assist. Skeletal muscle ventricles can be connected to the circulation in a variety of configurations for both left and right heart assist; when connected to the aorta and stimulated to contract during diastole, they function in a similar fashion as an intraaortic balloon pump.

Methods. Skeletal muscle ventricles were constructed in 18 dogs using the left latissimus dorsi muscle. In 10 of these dogs (group 1), the inner surface of the SMV was lined with autogenous pericardium obtained at the time of construction of the SMV. For the remaining 8, the SMVs were lined by fibrous tissue that forms in reaction to the synthetic mandrel around which the latissimus muscle is wrapped. After the muscles were electrically conditioned to a fatigue-resistant state, the mandrels were removed from the SMVs and the SMVs were connected to the descending thoracic aorta with a specially constructed base cap and two polytetrafluoroethylene conduits.

Results. Initial hemodynamic recordings revealed that the mean diastolic blood pressure increased by 24.7% in group 1 and by 29.8% in group 2. Diastolic augmentation was well maintained over time; augmentation in surviving group 1 animals was 30.0% after 18 months of pumping continuously in circulation. Long-term survival was greater in the dogs whose SMVs were constructed using an inner pericardial lining. At 90 days in circulation, 60% of the dogs in group 1 were alive with functioning SMVs, whereas only 13% of the dogs in group 2 were alive. The incidence of SMV rupture in the fibrous-lined SMVs was 63%, whereas the incidence in the pericardial-lined SMVs was 0%. No evidence of thromboembolism occurred in either group.

Conclusions. Lining the inner surface of an SMV with pericardium appears to provide structural integrity, which helps to prevent the complication of SMV rupture in this model of cardiac assist.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. R. Ramnarine, M. Capoccia, Z. Ashley, H. Sutherland, M. Russold, N. Summerfield, S. Salmons, and J. C. Jarvis Counterpulsation From the Skeletal Muscle Ventricle and the Intraaortic Balloon Pump in the Normal and Failing Circulations Circulation, July 4, 2006; 114(1_suppl): I-10 - I-15. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]