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An abdominally positioned left ventricular assist device (ALVAD) has been evaluated in our most recent series of 25 calves weighing 99 plus or minus 12 kg. The ALVAD is a pneumatically actuated bladder pump, positioned subdiaphragmatically and connected between the left ventricular apex and the infrarenal abdominal aorta. The mean survival time in the calves was 41 days and the longest 65 days. The major effects of the pump are reduction of all indices of left ventricular work and increases in systemic perfusion. In the awake, unanesthetized calf, left ventricular pressure, dP/dt, and stroke work were decreased while peak aortic pressure, stroke volume, and cardiac output increased. These effects were corroborated at cardiac catheterization two to four weeks postoperatively; left ventriculograms also showed increases in ejection fraction. These data demonstrate the ALVAD's effectiveness in assuming left ventricular function and support over extended periods. The device has been developed for short-term postoperative clinical use in patients with reversible left ventricular failure.

The effects of an abdominal left ventricular assist device (ALVAD) on subendocardial oxygen supply/demand ratios as reflected by diastolic pressure-time index/tension-time index (DPTI/TTI) were investigated in calves. Control DPTI/TTI ratios were 1.09 plus or minus 0.12 (mean plus or minus SD). With ALVAD actuation the ratios increased to 5.73 plus or minus 3.2. Following circumflex coronary artery occlusion, control ratios decreased to 0.04 plus or minus 0.05 in the ischemic area and 0.97 plus or minus 0.20 in the nonischemic areas. With ALVAD actuation in the presence of circumflex occlusion, the depressed ratios were increased to 1.37 plus or minus 0.39 in the ischemic zone and 9.71 plus or minus 2.5 in the nonoccluded segments. Subendocardial oxygen supply/demand ratios were significantly improved by ALVAD assistance following induced subendocardial ischemia.

1) The implanted TAH offers a method of evaluating the effects of varying physiologic demands cardiac output and venous return. 2) Cardiac output and venous return measurements offer a method of evaluating system design of the device and driving and control-logic improvements in awake, unanesthetized animals. 3) The obtained cardiac function and venous return curves suggest that the present TAH is less responsive to increases in right atrial pressure than the natural heart, but is still completely controlled by venous return. Therefore, it is extremely important to make every effort to eliminate any factor causing excessive venous return.