Functional right-heart replacement with skeletal muscle ventricles.

Skeletal muscle ventricles were constructed from the latissimus dorsi in seven dogs. All skeletal muscle ventricles underwent a vascular delay period followed by 4-7 weeks of electrical preconditioning. In group 1 (n = 5), the skeletal muscle ventricle was used to replace native right-heart function. Venous return from the superior and inferior venae cavae was directed to the skeletal muscle ventricle with outflow directed to the pulmonary artery. In group 2 (n = 2), the skeletal muscle ventricle was used for partial bypass of the right heart. In both groups, right-heart bypass was continued for as long as 8 hours. In group 1 after 4 hours of continuous complete right-heart bypass, stroke work was 163 +/- 63% of canine right ventricular stroke work. Skeletal muscle ventricle output was 1.14 +/- 0.02 l/min, central venous pressure was 13 +/- 1.5 mm Hg, and systemic systolic blood pressure was 95 +/- 9 mm Hg. Skeletal muscle ventricles are capable of performing the work of the right heart with near-physiological filling pressures.