CARDIOVASCULAR ENGINEERING Journal for Extracorporeal Circulation, Assist Devices,Transplantation and Artificial Organs
	Volume 8, 2003, No 1-2

The Application of Fluidics Based Technology for Perfusion Preservation of Adult, Human Sized, Canine Hearts
L. Bunegin, J. F. Gelineau

Background: Preservation of ischemia sensitive organs such as the heart for periods greater that 4 to 6 hours continues to pose a significant challenge. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a newly developed, highly portable, fluidics based preservation technology on the extended preservation of adult human sized, canine hearts.
Methods: Freshly harvested, large, canine hearts were assigned to either a control group in which a functional evaluation was made immediately, and an experimental group in which the hearts were attached to the fluidics organ preservation device for 12 hours of hypothermic perfusion preservation at 4 to 7 ^oC with University of Wisconsin solution. Following preservation, measurements of left ventricular pressure/volume relationship were made at various left ventricular end diastolic volumes. Global stroke work was calculated as the integral of left ventricular pressure with respect to volume over the cardiac cycle and plotted against left ventricular end diastolic volume.
Results: Average time for perfusion storage was 12.7 " 0.8 hours at an average temperature of 6.9 " 1.2 ^oC. The slope and X-axis intercept of the stroke work/left ventricular end diastolic volume relationship were 179.26 " 41.70 X 10^-3 ergs/ml and 27.60 " 3.50 ml respectively for the control hearts, and 145.33 " 68.83 X 10^-3 ergs/ml and 24.39 " 8.94 respectively for the 12 hour preservation organs. No statistical differences were noted between groups.
Conclusions: Significantly prolonged preservation of adult human sized hearts appears possible using fluidics based perfusion preservation technology without significant deterioration of the inotropic state of the organ.

Keywords: fluidics, heart, perfusion preservation, canine, contractility

Leonid Bunegin
Associate Professor
Department of Anesthesiology
University of Texas
Health Science Center at San Antonio
7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio
Texas 78229
USA

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