FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH CARDIOMYOPLASTY IN UKRAINE

We have been studying feasible surgical alternatives for treating cong estive heart failure, including the use of cardiomyoplasty. in this op eration, skeletal muscles are conditioned, through electrical stimulat ion, to provide active tension on diseased myocardium, which improves left ventricular performance and ultimately increases cardiac output. We performed cardiomyoplasty in a 37-year-old man with severe ischemic cardiomyopathy. He was discharged from the hospital 2.5 months alter the operation, and he did not require medical therapy. We believe this to be the 1st cardiomyoplasty performed in Ukraine.