Chronic morphologic changes of skeletal muscle ventricles in circulation.

Skeletal muscle ventricles (SMVs) were constructed either extrathoracically or intrathoracically in 44 dogs using the left latissimus dorsi muscle. These SMVs functioned as aortic counterpulsators for from several hours to 216 days. In this study, the relationship between the morphologic changes in the SMVs and their time course in the circulation was evaluated retrospectively. The average volume of the SMV chamber after it had been excised and fixed in formalin was 21.3 +/- 11.0 mL (mean +/- the standard deviation) for extrathoracic SMVs and 20.0 +/- 7.5 mL for intrathoracic SMVs. The volume of the SMV chamber did not correlate with the time course in the circulation. The SMV wall was mainly composed of three components: muscular, fibrous, and fatty aspects. The overall thickness of the wall appeared to be preserved over time in the circulation. However, the thickness of the muscular component tended to decrease over time. SMV rupture occurred in 15 dogs between postoperative days 4 and 39. All ruptures occurred at the suture line between the SMV and the vascular conduits. There was some degree of thrombus in 24 SMVs. Before SMVs can be applied clinically for the purpose of cardiac assist, problems with rupture and thrombus formation must be solved. A better understanding of the morphologic changes that take place in the SMV over time also is needed.