Autotransplantation of skeletal muscle into myocardium.

In a series of 15 studies in dogs, sternocleidomastoid muscle was used to replace deficits created in left ventricular myocardium and sternohyoid muscle was used to replace portions of right myocardial wall. The five right ventricular autotransplants resulted in a 100% surgical success rate, with animals electively killed between 3 and 55 weeks after surgery. In 10 left ventricular studies excision of areas varying from 12 X 46 mm to 30 X 60 mm and incisions of from 40 mm to 70 mm in length were performed. Left ventricular studies resulted in a 60% surgical success rate, with clinically healthy animals being killed for study between 2 weeks and 50 weeks after surgery. Animals surviving the critical surgical recovery period showed no loss of weight or changes in activity. Gross findings at autopsy confirmed the viability of the skeletal muscle transplants. Borders were well healed and the grafted tissue was pliable. Histologic studies suggest that revascularization of skeletal muscle occurred from the myocardial side, and that there were healthy myocardial and skeletal muscle fibers at the junction, with evidence of regeneration.