Abstract
The left heart bypass (LHB) experiments (Left atrium-aorta) were performed in failing hearts of twenty-three mongrel dogs using a centrifugal pump. Coronary sinus blood flow (CSBF), myocardial oxygen consumption (MOC), myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial PO2, PCO2, pH were studied before and during LHB. During LHB, the MBF was effectively distributed to important regions of the damaged left ventricular (LV) through auto-regulation mechanism, and the myocardial PO2, PCO2, pH were significantly imporved. In conclusion the LHB is a very useful mechanical circulatory assistance to improve local myocardial metabolism during cardiogenic shock.
