Ventricular volume, chamber stiffness, and function after anteroapical aneurysm plication in the sheep

Objective: The success of left ventricular aneurysm plication depends on how the procedure affects both end-systolic elastance and diastolic compliance and how those changes affect ventricular function (stroke work/end-diastolic volume [PRSW] and stroke volume/end-diastolic pressure [Starling] relationships). Methods: Five male Dorsett sheep were surgically instrumented with coronary artery snares, an inferior vena caval occluder, and an ascending aortic ultrasonic flow probe. One week later an anteroapical myocardial infarction was produced by tightening the coronary snares. Ten weeks after myocardial infarction, the left ventricular aneurysm was plicated. Absolute left ventricular volume was measured by long-axis transdiaphragmatic echocardiography, and relative changes in left ventricular volume were measured with a conductance catheter. End-systolic elastance, diastolic compliance, PRSW, and Starling relationships were measured immediately before myocardial infarction, 10 weeks after myocardial infarction (immediately before plication), and immediately after and 6 weeks after aneurysm plication. Results: After plication, end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular volumes return to preinfarction values. The slopes of end-systolic elastance, diastolic compliance, and PRSW decrease 10 weeks after myocardial infarction, increase with aneurysm plication, and then decrease 6 weeks after aneurysm plication. The Starling relationship undergoes a downward parallel shift with aneurysm plication. Conclusion: Aneurysm plication abruptly decreases left ventricular volume and diastolic compliance, increases end-systolic elastance and PRSW, but decreases the Starling relationship. The net effect on left ventricular function is mixed. Furthermore, left ventricular remodeling 6 weeks after aneurysm plication causes left ventricular volume, end-systolic elastance, diastolic compliance, PRSW, and the Starling relationship to return to preplication values. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;119:115-24)