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Skeletal Muscle Ventricles: Another Alternative for Heart Failure
Author(s) -
Niinami Hiroshi,
Greer Kevin,
Koyanagi Hitoshi,
Stephenson Larry
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of cardiac surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.428
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1540-8191
pISSN - 0886-0440
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8191.1996.tb00051.x
Subject(s) - medicine , latissimus dorsi muscle , skeletal muscle , heart failure , cardiac muscle , cardiology , surgery
A bstractBackground : Autologous muscle has the potential of generating power for cardiac assistance. Problems with muscle fatigue have been overcome by the development of successful protocols of electrical conditioning and by allowing a recovery interval after the initial harvest. Methods : Our laboratory has pursued research with latissimus dorsi muscle pouches, which we term skeletal muscle ventricles (SMVs). By allowing several weeks for a “vascular delay” interval and then electrically conditioning the muscle, these pouches can be connected to the circulation and stimulated to assist the heart. Results : These pouches have been developed and tested in the canine model in numerous configurations, achieving survival beyond 3 years. Conclusions : Although still experimental, SMVs may have the potential of becoming a viable alternative for the future treatment of patients with end‐stage heart failure and with infants with certain congenital anomalies.