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Ann Thorac Surg 2002;73:1927-1932
© 2002 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Original article: cardiovascular

Avoiding ischemia in latissimus dorsi muscle grafts: electrical prestimulation versus vascular delay

^a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
^b Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool, The Sherrington Buildings, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Accepted for publication March 5, 2002.

* Address reprint requests to Dr Salmons, Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool, The Sherrington Buildings, Ashton St, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
e-mail: s.salmons{at}liverpool.ac.uk

Background. Surgical mobilization of the latissimus dorsi muscle produces regional ischemic damage that may compromise its function in clinical applications such as cardiomyoplasty. We compared the effectiveness of two procedures designed to maintain blood flow throughout the mobilized muscle.

Methods. Adult pigs were assigned to two experimental groups: an electrically prestimulated group (n = 10) and a vascular delay group (n = 10). In the prestimulated group the left latissimus dorsi muscle was activated in situ at 2 Hz for 24 h/d. In the vascular delay group, the intercostal perforating arteries to the left latissimus dorsi muscle were divided. Two weeks later, hyperemic blood flow was measured by means of fluorescent microspheres immediately before and after mobilizing the latissimus dorsi muscle and again after recovery for a further 2 days.

Results. In the prestimulated group, blood flow was not significantly depressed in any region of the muscle immediately after mobilization, and blood flow increased significantly in proximal (p = 0.01), middle (p = 0.02), and distal (p = 0.007) regions following recovery. In muscles subjected to vascular delay the proximal and middle regions showed no significant changes in blood flow after mobilization or recovery, but flow in the distal region was 50% lower after mobilization (p = 0.003), and it remained significantly depressed even after recovery (p = 0.008).

Conclusions. Prestimulation was significantly more effective than vascular delay in preserving distal blood flow. Because it is also less invasive and initiates metabolic transformation before mobilization, this technique should allow cardiac assistance to be introduced at an earlier postoperative stage without compromising the viability of the grafted muscle.

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