[Left heart by-pass in case of ventricular fibrillation (author's transl)]

The authors have studied in 11 mongrel dogs the hemodynamic conditions created by a transarterial closed chest left by-pass (TaCLVB) in ventricular fibrillation. The attention was focussed on the function of the right atrium. This function is recorded with closed chest by means of a catheter in the external jugular vein. The experiments show a left heart by-pass can function only if there are good contractions in the right atrium. The right atrium insures pulmonary circulation during ventricular fibrillation. This well continue for 30 to 60 minutes by means of the TaCLVB then the right atrium will fail and fibrillate. The animals died of right heart failure.