Evaluation of natural heart movement under left ventricular assist device (LVAD) pumping

-Evaluation by left ventriculography (LVG)-

Abstract

The acute LVAD experiments (left atrium-aorta) were performed in six mongrel dogs to evaluate the natural heart movement by LVG. In normal condition, with LVAD on, LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDVI), stroke volume (SVI), stroke work (SWI), LV work (LVWImin) and wall stress decreased to 68, 31, 42, 43 and 80% of the LVAD off values. While in the failing heart, when LVAD was on, LVEDVI, SVI SWI, LVWImin and wall stress at asynergy decreased to 72, 51, 74, 71 and 69% of LVAD off values. In conclusion, LVAD can effectively decrease volume load, work and wall stress of the natural heart.