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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Pre-clinical Model of Cardiac Donation after Circulatory Death
Published on: August 2, 2019
Transient ischaemia induced by rapid cardiac pacing results in myocardial preconditioning
A Vegh1, L Szekeres, J R Parratt
1Institute of Pharmacology, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
Study Objective:
The aim was to determine whether rapid ventricular pacing can protect against the ventricular arrhythmias occurring during a subsequent coronary artery occlusion.
Design:
The effect was examined of two 2 min periods of pacing (300 beats.min-1) in chloralose-urethane anaesthetised dogs on a subsequent 25 min coronary artery occlusion. Ventricular arrhythmias, ST segment elevation, and inhomogeneity of conduction were analysed.
Experimental Material:
25 anaesthetised mongrel dogs in a restricted body weight range were used.
Measurements And Main Results:
Preocclusion pacing reduced the severity of occlusion induced ST segment elevation, degree of inhomogeneity, and arrhythmias: ventricular premature beats were reduced from 528(SEM 40) to 136(45), and there were lower incidences of ventricular fibrillation (0% v 47%) and ventricular tachycardia (30% v 80%).
Conclusions:
Rapid ventricular pacing "preconditions" the myocardium in a manner similar to that following short coronary artery occlusions. Short periods of ischaemia no matter how induced protect the heart against the arrhythmogenic effect of a prolonged coronary artery occlusion.
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