[The effect of mechanical support of the heart on the extent of experimental myocardial necrosis. I].
The authors investigated the influence of mechanical cardiac support with a non-pulsating blood flow on the size of an ischaemic after ligature of the descendent branch of the left coronary artery in the dog. As compared with a control group of experimental animals where mechanical cardiac support was not used, the size of the necrotic focus of the heart muscle diminished by 50% (p less than 0.01). In some of the experimental animals the size of the necrotic focus did not change despite the use of a mechanical cardiac support. Analysis of haemodynamic parameters (assessed and calculated) revealed that for the fate of the necrotic focus of the myocardium the degree of relief (decompression) of the left ventricle is decisive. In complete relief the necrosis diminishes in size.