LEFT AND RIGHT PUMP FLOW DIFFERENCES IN NONPULSATILE BIVENTRICULAR BYPASS (NPBB) AND TOTAL ARTIFICIAL HEART (TAH) ANIMALS

Abstract

Left and right pump flow differences in nonpulsatile biventricular bypass (NPBB) and total artificial heart (TAH) animals.
In the pulsatile total artificial heart and nonpulsatile biventricular bypass experiments, large and variable left-right flow differences averaging from 10 to 20% of the left flow (left higher) were observed; these flow differences were physiologicallv necessary conditions to maintain hemodynamics within normal ranges. Data analysis showed that these flow differences were best correlated with the aortic pressure, differences between aortic and left atrial pressure, and systemic vascular resistance, and therefore they are most likely due to bronchial flow.