This video describes an ex situ technique for preserving an isolated porcine heart by perfusing it with an oxygenated nutrient-rich perfusate solution. The technique allows the comprehensive evaluation of cardiac performance under physiological conditions.
Protocol
All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board. 1. Pre-surgical Preparations Place the organ chamber properly on the apparatus cart and install the silicon support membrane inside the organ chamber. The aorta (Ao), pulmonary artery (PA) and left atrium (LA) connection points can be seen in Figure 1. Install the ex situ heart perfusion (ESHP) tubing network (re…
Representative Results
Figure 1: The silicone support membrane for the heart. Support membrane pictured with integrated aortic cannula (A), left atrial cannula (B), and pulmonary artery cannula (C). Figure 2: The ESHP circuit. (A) Schematic figure of the ES…
Disclosures
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Materials
Debakey-Metzenbaum dissecting scissors
Pilling
342202
MAYO dissecting scissors
Pilling
460420
THUMB forceps
Pilling
465165
Debakey straight vascular tissue forceps
Pilling
351808
CUSHING Gutschdressing forceps
Pilling
466200
JOHNSON needle holder
Pilling
510312
DERF needle holder
Pilling
443120
Sternal saw
Stryker
6207
Sternal retractor
Pilling
341162
Vorse tubing clamp
Pilling
351377
MORRIS ascending aorta clamp
Pilling
353617
Surgical snare (tourniquet) set
Medtronic
CVR79013
2-0 SILK black 12" x 18" strands
ETHICON
A185H
3-0 PROLENE blue 18" PS-2 cutting
ETHICON
8687H
Biomedicus pump drive (modified)
Medtronic
540
Modified to allow remote electronic control of pump speed