Passive ventricular constraint amends the course of heart failure: A study in an ovine model of dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Objective: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is associated with a progressive deterioration in cardiac function. We hypothesised that some of the deleterious effects of DCM could be reduced by mechanically limiting the degree of cardiac dilatation. Methods: A Transonic 20A cardiac output (CO) flow-probe was implanted in the pulmonary artery of 12 adult (52±4 kg) sheep. Early heart failure was created by rapid right ventricular (RV) pacing for 21 days at a rate which resulted in an initial 10% decrease in CO (to a maximum of 190 bpm). A custom polyester jacket (Acorn Cardiovascular, St Paul, MN) was then placed, via a partial lower sternotomy, on the ventricular epicardium of all sheep. Animals we..