Author/Editor     Ghodsizad, Ali; Kar, Biswajit; Loyalka, Pranav; Okur, Abdullah; Gonzales, Jose; Bara, Christoph; Ungerer, Matthias N.; Gregorič, Igor; Ruhparwar, Arjang
Title     Less invasive off-pump implantation of axial flow pumps in chronic ischemic heart failure
Type     članek
Vol. and No.     Letnik 30, št. 7
Publication year     2011
Volume     str. 834-837
ISSN     1053-2498 - The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
Language     eng
Abstract     Background Off-pump implantation of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) axial or centrifugal flow pumps in patients with low ejection fraction (EF) is of major clinical relevance. In addition, all pre-clinical, long-term implantations performed so far have been carried out in healthy animals, but this does not reflect the eventual clinical setting. In this study we established a new technique using a miniaturized axial flow pump in sheep with chronically ischemic myocardium. Methods Sheep (n = 15) underwent intracoronary sphere injection to create chronic ischemic heart failure. Reduced EF was assessed using transesophageal echocardiography. All animals underwent implantation of a new miniaturized axial flow pump via an extraperitoneal, subcostal surgical approach. Results Our technique allows easy exposure of the diaphragmatic surface of the heart and the descending aorta. Ten animals (range 65 to 78 kg) underwent off-pump implantation 30 (range 25 to 33) days after intracoronary sphere injection. All animals had significantly reduced EF (25 % 4.8%) and were receiving high doses of inotropic agents to maintain cardiac function. Nine animals survived the surgical procedure. The average 12-hour blood loss was 435 ml. Cardiac index improved significantly in all animals. The procedure time was not extended by any adverse events (60 to 145 minutes). Conclusions The extraperitoneal, subcostal surgical approach is less invasive than a median sternotomy and allows centrifugal or axial to be implanted quickly and without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Avoiding CPB and an extensive mediastinal dissection can help to decrease significantly the number of complications in patients with end-stage organ failure.
Keywords     heart failure
myocardial recovery
implantat
odpoved srca
okrevanje miokarda
vsadek