A simple method of resuscitation and short-term preservation of the canine cadaver heart.

A simple technique of resuscitation of the canine cadaver heart is described. The method includes internal manual cardiac massage and positive-pressure ventilation of the lungs after isolation of the heart-lung preparation from the rest of the systemic circulation. This techniqle proved successful in 20 of 25 cases after periods of anoxic cardiac arrest ranging from 15 to 128 minutes (average 35 minutes). An evaluation of the state of the myocardium in the postresuscitation period was made by a number of hemodynamic, electrocardiographic, blood chemistry, and histopathological observations, with particular note being taken of those relating to left ventricular contractility and to hematoxylin-basic fuchsin-picric acid (HBFP) staining.