Latissimus Dorsi Cardiomyoplasty in Right Ventricular Failure

This experimental study was carried out to see whether latissimus dorsi wrapped over the right ventricle could augment the right ventricular function if ventricular function was detoriated mechanially. Four dogs having an average pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) of 20.25 mmHg (21, 19, 22, 19 mmHg) entered this study. The average PAP fell to 6 mmHg (7, 5, 6, 6 mmHg) after creating right ventricular failure mechanically. Latissimus dorsi which had been harvested previously was wrapped over the right ventricle and was stimulated with the use of hospital-made myostimulator asynchronously. The highest PAP was obtained when the myostimulator was adjusted to 3 V and 110 msec after stimulation of the heart and latissimus dorsi. Mean P.AP rose significantly (p<0.002) to 12 mmHg (13, 11, 14, 10 mmHg).