To optimize cardiac resynchronization therapy with epicardial leads, mapping to determine the best pace site is a prerequisite. Pressure-volume loops offer real-time guidance for targeting epicardial lead placement during minimal invasive surgery.

Some patients in need of hemodynamic support do not respond to intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) therapy. Hemodynamic stability can then be obtained by a more potent cardiac assist device, like the Impella catheter pump. Whether additional IABP support additional to Impella support can provide more optimal hemodynamic myocardial conditions is examined in this study. Seven sheep were implemented with IABP and Impella. An acute myocardial infarction was induced. Hemodynamic performance was assessed during baseline, during Impella support and IABP support individually, and during the combined Impella plus IABP support. The Impella support provided a reduction of afterload with 30% and an increase of coronary artery flow with 47%. The IABP increased coronary artery flow (13%), carotid artery flow (16%), and aortic ascending blood pressure (6%); a similar (but stronger) effect was provided when using the IABP support additional to Impella support and, respectively, increases of 33, 21, and 19% were established. The oxygen demand-supply ratio decreased by 25% due to the extra use of the IABP. A combination of IABP and Impella provides the most optimal hemodynamic myocardial conditions compared to either stand-alone support.

The quantification of mechanical interventricular asynchrony (IVA) was investigated. In 12 dogs left bundle branch block (LBBB) was induced by radio frequency ablation. Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) pressures were recorded before and after induction of LBBB and during LBBB + LV apex pacing at different atrioventricular (AV) delays. Four IVA measures were validated using computer simulations on experimentally obtained pressure signals. The most robust measure for IVA was the time delay between the upslope of the LV and RV pressure signals (DeltaT(up)), estimated by cross correlation. The induction of experimental LBBB decreased DeltaT(up) from -6.9 +/- 7.0 ms (RV before LV) to -33.9 +/- 7.6 ms (P < 0.05) in combination with a significant decrease of LV maximal first derivative of pressure development over time (dP/dt(max)). During LV apex pacing, DeltaT(up) increased with decreasing AV delay up to +20.9 +/- 14.6 ms (P < 0.05). Interventricular resynchronization (DeltaT(up) = 0 ms) significantly improved LV dP/dt(max) by 15.1 +/- 5.9%. QRS duration increased significantly after induction of LBBB but did not change during LV apex pacing. In conclusion, DeltaT(up) is a reliable measure of mechanical IVA, which adds valuable information concerning the nature of asynchronous activation of the ventricles.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) overpumping is associated with hemolysis, thrombus release, and tissue damage at the pump inlet. However, the impact of LVAD suction on pulmonary circulatory function remains unknown. We investigated LVAD suction as induced by pulmonary artery banding and overpumping in experimental animals and in a computer model. In six sheep, a rotary LVAD was implanted. Before inducing suction, partial support (40-60% of cardiac output) was established and characterized by measuring pressures and flows. In the animals, pulmonary artery occlusion (PAOC) elicited LVAD suction (left ventricular pressure was from -10 to -20 mm Hg) within 5-10 heartbeats. During suction, aortic pressure dropped to 50% and LVAD flow decreased significantly. After releasing the occlusion (20 s), the collapsed state persisted for another 20 s. A similar trend was obtained by simulating PAOC in the computer model. Additional simulations showed that pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), volume status, and right ventricular (RV) contractility are exponentially related to the persistence of collapse after a suction event. Even modest increases in predisposing factors (elevated PVR, RV dysfunction, hypovolemia) caused sustained hemodynamic collapse lasting in excess of 15 min. Both in selected animals and the computer model, comparable suction-induced collapse was obtained by increasing LVAD speed by about 33%. Attempted compensation by simply decreasing speed was not effective, but temporarily shutting down the LVAD caused rapid reversal of collapse. In conclusion, rotary LVAD suction causes unfavorable conditions for effective unloading. The use of pump interventions appears a promising tool to detect suction and to avoid the associated hemodynamic depression.

Objectives: Electrical remodeling in cardiac hypertrophy often involves the downregulation of K + currents, including β-adrenergic (β-A)-sensitive I Ks . Temporal patterns of ion-channel downregulation are poorly resolved. In dogs with complete atrioventricular block (AVB), we examined (1) the time course of molecular alterations underlying I Ks downregulation from acute to chronic hypertrophy; and (2) concomitant changing responses of repolarization to β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) stimulation. Methods and Results: Serial left-ventricular (LV) biopsies were collected from anesthetized dogs during sinus rhythm (SR; control) and at 3, 7 and 30 days of AVB. KCNQ1 mRNA and protein decreased within 3 days (protein expression 58 ± 10% of control), remaining low thereafter. β1-AR mRNA and protein decreased more gradually to 53 ± 8% at 7 days. In chronic-AVB LV myocytes, I Ks -tail density was reduced: 1.4 ± 0.3 pA/pF versus 2.6 ± 0.4 pA/pF in controls. β-A enhancement of I Ks was reduced. Isoproterenol shortened action-potential duration in control cells, while causing heterogeneous repolarization responses in chronic AVB. β-A early afterdepolarizations were induced in 4 of 13 chronic-AVB cells, but not in controls. In intact conscious dogs, isoproterenol shortened QT c at SR (by −8 ± 3% from 295 ms), left it unaltered at 3 days AVB (+1 ± 3% from 325 ms) and prolonged QT c at 30 days (+ 6 ± 3% from 365 ms). Conclusions: Profound decrease of KCNQ1 occurs within days after AVB induction and is followed by a more gradual decrease of β1-AR expression. Downregulation and blunted β-A activation of I Ks contribute to the loss of β-A-induced shortening of ventricular repolarization, favoring proarrhythmia. Provocation testing with isoproterenol identifies repolarization instability based on acquired channelopathy.