Papers

International journal
Mar, 2021

Assessment of the right ventricle in donation after circulatory death hearts.

Artificial organs
  • Sachiko Kadowaki
  • ,
  • Yasuhiro Kotani
  • ,
  • Yasuyuki Kobayashi
  • ,
  • Takuya Goto
  • ,
  • Shingo Kasahara

Volume
45
Number
3
First page
263
Last page
270
Language
English
Publishing type
Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI
10.1111/aor.13823

In donation after circulatory death heart transplantation, the donor heart is exposed to circulatory load. The right ventricle, due to its structure, has high compliance for volume load but is particularly vulnerable to increased pressure load. This study used a porcine model to conduct a functional assessment of the hemodynamics of the heart, with a focus on the right ventricle. Six pigs weighing 24.6 ± 1.4 kg were used. Circulatory death was induced by asphyxiation after median sternotomy. After 30 minutes in the state of global warm ischemia, the ascending aorta was clamped, followed by a 20-minute reperfusion of the heart with a 20°C blood cardioplegia solution. Systemic circulation was established by cardiopulmonary bypass after aortic cross-clamping. After initial reperfusion, the blood cardioplegia solution was replaced with blood. The blood was then rewarmed while the heart was still in a non-working state. Cardiac function was assessed twice in situ, first by the thermodilution method, and then, by the pressure-volume measurement both at preischemia and at three hours after initiation of reperfusion. The recovery rate of cardiac output was 75%. End-systolic elastance (P = .02) and pulmonary arterial elastance significantly increased (P = .03), but the ratio of arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance was preserved (P = .91) in the right ventricle. Despite a decrease in cardiac output after reperfusion from warm ischemia, the right ventricle had a potential to respond the elevated afterload. It is important that donations after circulatory death heart transplantation should be performed with attention to avoiding right ventricular distension.

Link information
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/aor.13823
PubMed
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32979873
ID information
  • DOI : 10.1111/aor.13823
  • Pubmed ID : 32979873

Export
BibTeX RIS