Experimental Artificial Left Heart to Permit Surgical Exposure of Mitral Valve in Gats.

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Abstract
Previous attempts at surgical exposure of the mitral valve in exptl. animals by temporarily supporting the systemic circulation by some artificial means have usually involved reproducing the physiology of the right and left sides of the heart as well as the lungs. The system described obviates the necessity of constructing an artificial right heart and an artificial lung. It consists essentially of a method of delivering the normally oxygenated blood from the left lung into a glass chamber and then pumping it into the arterial tree via the femoral arteries. At the same time, blood from the right lung is prevented from entering the left heart by temporarily occluding the right pulmonary artery with a tourniquet. Cannulation of the left pulmonary veins is accomplished by passing the cannulae through the left auricula appendage and chamber of the left auricle into the openings of the left pulmonary veins. The pump used is a variation of the standard roller-type pump. The left side of the heart is rendered relatively bloodless for periods of time exceeding one-half hour, thus permitting exposure of the mitral valve in cats through openings either in the left auricle or left ventricle. Long-term survivals have been obtained.

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