Experimental heterotopic heart transplantation without ischemia or reperfusion
Lin, H.; Iannettoni, M.D.; Goldblum, J.R.; Bolling, S.F.
Journal of Heart Transplantation 9(6): 720-723
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0887-2570 PMID: 2277310 Document Number: 361232
Current experimental models of heart transplantation include a period of ischemia after donor harvest, resulting in rhythm disturbances, myocardial distention, and reperfusion injury on implantation. A model of cervical heterotopic heart transplantation that avoids ischemia by using retrograde perfusion was developed. More than 100 consecutive successful transplantations have been performed both as control protocols and as a part of experimental protocols. The advantages of this technique include: avoidance of ischemia and reperfusion injury, prevention of myocardial damage caused by overdistention, and potential evaluation of pretreatment regimens for transplanted hearts.