1984 Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 109-112
Feasibility of circulatory maintenance with a SAH was studied in goats. SAH is a pulsatile pump inserted between the left atrium (LA) and aorta after removal of both natural ventricles, while a shunt was placed between right atrium and pulmonary artery (PA) using a graft. Provided that pulmonary vascular resistance was in normal range, circulation was well maintained when right atrial pressure was kept above 14mmHg at acute stage, while above 10mmHg at chronic stage. It is speculated that pressure gradient between PA and LA in addition to pump-up effect by SAH through the lung can maintain the normal circulation without the right heart.
