1981 Volume 10 Issue 2 Pages 473-476
Cardiac function was evaluated in a goat with hybrid type total artificial heart. The measured parameters were right and left ventricular pressure, aortic and pulmonary arterial pressure, CVP, pulmonary arterial flow and ECG. Ventricular dP/dt and TTI were calculated from these datas.
The natural heart showed no signs of functional disturbance for more than three months and responded well to treadmill exercise. Left ventricular pressure and TTI were elevated postoperatively and dP/dt did not decrease. Histological examination revealed slight hypertrophy of the left ventricle.
From these datas, it was expected that coronary blood flow was maintained well throughout the course and cardiac external work was diminished but pressure work was increased in this system. It seemed necessary to evaluate this method in failing heart animals.
