Cardiac function following prolonged preservation and orthotopic transplantation.

Donor dog hearts perfused with whole blood were preserved ex vivo, beating, for 12 hours before orthotopic implantation. Twenty-four to 48 hours following implantation, ventricular function was studied using sonomicrometric techniques and compared to that of acutely denervated and conventionally preserved transplanted hearts. Hearts preserved ex vivo for 12 hours and then implanted in an orthotopic position had ventricular function statistically equal to or better than acutely denervated or conventionally preserved transplanted hearts.