Pj. Hendry et al., DOES SEPTAL POSITION AFFECT RIGHT-VENTRICULAR FUNCTION DURING LEFT-VENTRICULAR ASSIST IN AN EXPERIMENTAL PORCINE MODEL, Circulation, 90(5), 1994, pp. 353-358
Right ventricular (RV) failure has been a major problem with patients
supported by left ventricular (LV) assist devices (LVADs). To assess t
he importance of interventricular septal (IVS) position as a mechanism
of RV failure, 7 Yorkshire pigs underwent implantation of a Thoratec
LVAD. RV function was assessed before and during LVAD operation under
differing conditions: (1) with an LV intraventricular latex balloon in
flated or deflated to alter NS position and (2) with and without pulmo
nary artery (PA) constriction to assess the effect of changes in after
load. RV stroke work, RV dP/dt, and RV end-diastolic length did not ch
ange significantly with LVAD operation or with changing afterload cond
itions. Septal shift was documented as a change in LV shape index (LVS
I) calculated using echocardiography. LVSI decreased by 11% when the L
VAD was turned on, indicating leftward shifting of the IVS (P=.01). Du
ring LVAD support and increased RV afterload, the LVSI decreased by 14
.8% (P=.02). RV cardiac output decreased somewhat during LVAD support.
However, RV output was worst when the septal position was normalized
using the inflated intraventricular balloon during increased RV afterl
oad (P=.05). Unloading by the LVAD of the left ventricle results in a
leftward shift of the interventricular septum, which does not appear t
o adversely affect RV function. However, during conditions of increase
d RV afterload, septal shifting may be beneficial to RV function.