[Electric stimulation of skeletal muscles as the optimal method of left-ventricular bypass]

Experiments were performed on 15 mongrel dogs to evaluate the influence of electrostimulated contractions of the hind limb and abdominal skeletal muscles on the efficacy of assisted circulation (AC). The influence of massage of the abdomen on AC efficacy was studied in 10 experiments. In electrostimulation of the hind limb muscles the drainage along the femoral vein, measured by the direct method, increased threefold: from 58 +/- 9 to 162 +/- 7 ml/min under conditions of an intact heart and from 5.8 +/- 0.8 to 15 +/- 1.2 ml/min in cardiac insufficiency. The efficacy of AC by the method of left-ventricular bypass by means of the Module artificial heart ventricle (AHV) increased through the flow of blood to the heart, which was manifested by greater AHV performance with rise of systolic and diastolic pressure to 7-8 mm Hg. In cardiovascular insufficiency the influence of electrostimulation on AC efficacy was weaker, the systolic and diastolic pressure increased only by 2-4 mm Hg, in massage of the abdomen both indices increased by 8-10 mm Hg.