SKELETAL-MUSCLE EXTRA-AORTIC COUNTERPULSATION IN DOGS WITH DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

Skeletal muscle extra-aortic counterpulsation was performed in seven d ogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. A left latissimus dorsi dynamic desce nding thoracic aortomyoplasty was used as the autologous counterpulsat or. Pulse train stimulation in diastole was used to initiate contracti on and fibre type transformation. Two of the dogs died within 48 hours of surgery. The device was successfully activated in the five remaini ng dogs, but in one individual it failed within 48 hours of activation . Serial echocardiographic examinations of dogs in which the device fu nctioned successfully (n=4) showed trends towards the decrease in the left ventricular systolic internal dimension, left ventricular diastol ic internal dimension, E-point to septal separation and left atrial di ameter in systole seven to 14 days following the procedure, although t hese changes failed to persist in the long term. The results suggest t hat skeletal muscle for cardiac assistances such as extra-aortic muscl e counterpulsation, might be a therapeutic option for dogs with cardia c failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy.