Korean Circ J.  2004 Jun;34(6):593-599. 10.4070/kcj.2004.34.6.593.

A New Experimental Model of Heterotopic Intrathoracic Heart Transplantation without Cardiopulmonary Bypass

• Shin JS
• Sun K
• Son HS
• Jung JS
• Kim HM

• KMID: 1858909
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2004.34.6.593

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
A variety of experimental heterotopic heart transplantation models have been developed for the purpose of this study. However most were complicated and used extracorporeal circulation. A new and simple experimental working heterotopic intrathoracic heart transplantation model has been developed in dogs, which could be performed without support of extracorporeal circulation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Six mongrel dogs were used for the three heterotopic heart transplantation experiments. The heterotopic hearts were transplanted in the right thoracic cavity using a right thoracotomy. The superior vena cava and left atrial cuff of the donor heart was anastomosed to the superior vena cava and left atrium of the recipient heart. Consequently, the aorta and pulmonary artery were anastomosed to the ascending aorta and right atrial appendage of the recipient heart, without cardiopulmonary bypass. The electrocardiograms of the donor and recipient hearts were measured by electrodes placed at the ventricular apexes and on the skin.
RESULTS
The donor hearts survived for 10, 6 and 18 days after transplantation, without any immunosuppressive agents or anticoagulants. The electrocardiograms of both hearts could be measured using the electrodes. There were no wave or voltage changes on electrocardiography.
CONCLUSION
This working heart model of heterotopic intrathoracic transplantation, without cardiopulmonary bypass, may be useful in studies for various purposes, i.e., the effects of different pharmacological agents on the conduction system of the denervated heart and the hemodynamic changes of the recipient with auxiliary support of the transplanted heart.

Keyword

Heart transplantation; Transplantation, heterotopic; Models, theoretical

MeSH Terms

Animals
Anticoagulants
Aorta
Atrial Appendage
Cardiopulmonary Bypass*
Dogs
Electrocardiography
Electrodes
Extracorporeal Circulation
Heart Atria
Heart Transplantation*
Heart*
Hemodynamics
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents
Models, Theoretical*
Pulmonary Artery
Skin
Thoracic Cavity
Thoracotomy
Tissue Donors
Transplantation, Heterotopic
Vena Cava, Superior
Anticoagulants
Immunosuppressive Agents