Induction of heart failure: haemodynamic comparison of three different canine models.

We compared three methods: arteriovenous anastomosis, doxorubicin administration, and combination of anastomosis and doxorubicin, with the intention of designing a simple, stable model of chronic heart failure. Twelve dogs were divided into three groups of four. One group received carotid-jugular anastomosis (Ana series), another group received anastomosis and doxorubicin injection (A/D series), and the last group received only doxorubicin (Dox series). Animals were followed for eight weeks. Fifteen different haemodynamic parameters were tracked and compared to baseline values. After eight weeks, diastolic pressure in the right atrium increased from 3.8+/-2.0 mmHg at baseline to 5.3+/-5.9 mmHg in the Ana series, to 6.3+/-3.3 mmHg in the Dox series and to 8.0+/-2.0 mmHg in the A/D series (P<0.05 A/D vs. baseline). Systolic pulmonary wedge pressure increased from 11.6+/-2.0 mmHg at baseline to 15.5+/-3.4 mmHg in the Ana series, 14.0+/-3.7 mmHg in the Dox series and 17.3+/-4.2 mmHg in the A/D series (P = NS vs. baseline). Left ventricular ejection fraction decreased from 53.9+/-10% at baseline to 36.1+/-5.6% in the Ana series (P<0.05 vs. baseline), 31.5+/-5.4% in the Dox series (P<0.05 vs. baseline) and 25.8+/-5.8% in the A/D series (P<0.001 vs. baseline, P<0.05 vs. Ana series and Dox series). In conclusion, eight weeks are not enough to produce stable heart failure using arteriovenous anastomosis alone. Doxorubicin administration alone produces a left ventricular failure. However, a combination of both of these interventions provides a more stable model of right-and left-sided heart failure.

Elective percutaneous coronary intervention without on-site surgical backup: a community hospital experience.

CONTEXT: The American College of Cardiology guidelines consider elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) without on-site surgical backup (OSB) a Class-III indication. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the safety of elective PCI without OSB. DESIGN: The study is a prospective analysis of a cohort of patients who underwent elective PCI without OSB at our institution. All patients were at our community satellite institution in Beloit, Wis. Three hundred twenty-one elective interventions were performed (mean age 64 +/-12, 68% male). The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension was 28% and 82.5% respectively. INTERVENTION: A predefined protocol was designed to transfer patients to a cardiac surgical facility if necessary. An experienced interventional cardiologist reviewed the diagnostic angiograms. Patients with complex lesions were excluded from the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Any procedure-related death or emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-two vessels were stented. Multi-vessel intervention was performed in 61 patients (19%). Only 5% of lesions were type C. Four hundred thirty-seven stents were deployed. IIb-IIIa inhibitors were used in 77 (24%) cases. Procedural success was 99.7%. There were no deaths, myocardial infarctions nor need for urgent target vessel revascularization at 6 months. CONCLUSION: With careful patient/lesion selection, an experienced interventional cardiologist and a predefined transfer protocol, elective PCI without OSB can be performed safely.