HOT-KNIFE DISSECTION OF THE LATISSIMUS-DORSI MUSCLE FOR DYNAMIC CARDIOMYOPLASTY

The overall purpose of circulatory assistance utilizing skeletal muscl e is the most efficient application of muscle power. From the histolog ical viewpoint, hot-knife dissection of the latissimus dorsi muscle (L DM) is presented to preserve muscle tissue. The shaw hemostatic scalpe l could be used similarly to standard surgical blades, and its hemosta tic performance was efficient in sealing collateral vessels from the t horacic wall. Muscular and nervous twitching was never observed throug hout dissecting the LDM. Histological findings revealed that muscle fi bers could be preserved by hot-knife dissection rather than by electro cautery. This technique may reduce the inconvenience of the operators, and, therefore, shorten the operation time in dynamic cardiomyoplasty and other experiments.