ABSTRACT
This prospective pilot study was designed to investigate the acute hemodynamic effects and clinical applicability of muscular counterpulsation (MCP), a one-shot procedure for biomechanical circulatory support. The study included 17 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and impaired ejection fraction (EF ≤45%) who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Patients were divided into control ( n = 7) and treatment ( n = 10) groups. MCP was applied through adhesive skin electrodes to the thighs and calves with a battery-powered, portable, ECG-triggered device for 15 minutes prior to general anesthesia. Standard ECG and invasive hemodynamic data were obtained from all patients. MCP was well tolerated in all patients, with no complications. Patients receiving MCP exhibited better cardiac function as indicated by reduced systemic vascular resistance and an augmented cardiac stroke index (+10%), which was maintained over time. After inducing general anesthesia via endotracheal intubation, the treatment group exhibited a reduced after-load (systemic vascular resistance index -28% and mean arterial pressure -10%) with increased left ventricular efficiency (stroke index/left ventricular stroke work index, +22%). Our findings indicate that MCP method was safe and easy to use in this patient population. In conclusion, a one-shot application of MCP prior to anesthesia was associated with an improvement in cardiac pump function and myocardial contractility.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The effectiveness of the left ventricle (LV) geometry reconstruction (Dor procedure) as the method of surgical treatment of LV post-infarction aneurysm and large dilated myocardial scars is well established. The efficacy of LV restoration in cases of globally dilated hypofunctional LV, containing the same spherical architecture as scarred, remains questionable. METHODS: The results of LV geometry reconstruction in small population of patients with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCMP) and predominantly hypokinetic LV are described in 14 patients of that underwent LV rebuilding into a conical architecture. Surgical procedures included LV geometry reconstruction with the synthetic patch, narrowing of widened dimensions between papillary muscles, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and, in several cases, mitral and tricuspid valves annuloplasty. RESULTS: Initial mean end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes indexes were 177 and 112 ml/m2, respectively, mean LV ejection fraction (EF) of 32.9%. The analysis of immediate and mid-term (1 and 4 years) results proved that LV reconstruction markedly decreased LV volumes and increased LVEF an average of +12% above resting values with significant improvement in clinical status. CONCLUSIONS: A rebuilding procedure for the scarred heart is now introduced to be used in ischemic patients with dilated ischemic cardiomyopathy without significant scar. Preliminary structural and physiological results imply that creating an elliptical form has potential importance during LV reconstruction of very sick patients with IDCMP without discrete scar.
