[Evaluation of the function of the left heart ventricle during the modeling of right ventricular hyperfunction using...

Left ventricular function was studied in 11 acute experiments on dogs during right ventricular hyperfunction modelling using an artificial heart ventricle (AHV). The right ventricle was excluded from circulation and replaced by AHV. First the baseline condition with regard to the cardiac index was recovered. The right ventricle was considered to be completely functionally replaced when no hemodynamic changes were observed. When the AHV output increased by 26% there were no considerable changes in hemodynamics and the functional condition of the left ventricle remained adequate. If the output was 56% higher certain hemodynamic changes and a tendency towards deterioration of the left ventricular function have been observed. The final stage of the experiments was characterized by twice as high ANV output, as compared to the initial one, which caused considerable hemodynamic changes and greater left ventricular weakness.