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(Circulation. 1971;43:I-90.)
© 1971 American Heart Association, Inc.

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Physiological Evaluation of Chronic Right Ventricular Bypass

C. GRANT LAFARGE M.D.¹; MICHAEL BANKOLE M.D.¹; WILLIAM F. BERNHARD M.D.¹

¹ From the Departments of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Children's Hospital Medical Center, and the Departments of Pediatrics and Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Investigations with an implantable left ventricular (LV) assist pump indicated inadequate circulatory support in the presence of induced ventricular fibrillation (VF). Consequently, a right ventricular (RV) bypass pump was developed to provide a stable pulmonary blood flow. This report evaluates the physiological effects of the RV pump alone and in conjunction with an LV pump.

Eleven calves have been evaluated by standard cardiac catheterization techniques during chronic pumping (1 to 85 days, mean 30 days, and continuing). Pressures, flows, and RV and LV function were monitored with transducer-tipped catheters and angiography. Effective pulmonary compliance was also measured. The RV bypass studies revealed (1) pump capability up to 8 L/min, reducing RV pressure and work to zero, (2) pulmonary artery pressure not significantly increased (20 to 40 mm Hg), (3) pulmonary compliance identical with sham-operated calves, and (4) no pathological changes noted in lungs. Data suggest that biventricular bypass pumps will provide chronic circulatory support during VF or biventricular failure.

Key Words: Studies during ventricular fibrillation • Pulmonary compliance • Physiological evaluation of mechanical blood pump