Extended ex vivo myocardial preservation in the beating state using a novel polyethylene glycolated bovine hemoglobin perfusate based solution.

Cardiac preservation for transplantation is generally limited by ischemic hypothermic storage of 4-6 hours. Earlier studies in the authors' laboratory have demonstrated that hypothermic perfusion preservation using a novel oxygen carrying hemoglobin solution may extend preservation times to 8 hours and decrease ischemic injury. The purpose of this study was to compare extended cardiac function after 12 and 24 hours of continuous hypothermic perfusion with a polyethylene glycolated bovine hemoglobin perfusate (PEG-Hb) solution to the clinical standard of hypothermic ischemic preservation.

S-nitrosoglutathione preserves platelet function during in vitro ventricular assist device circulation.

Complications (severe bleeding/thromboembolism) may occur during ventricular assist device (VAD) circulation, caused mainly by platelet dysfunction from platelet activation. We hypothesized that S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), having platelet activity preservation properties like nitric oxide (NO), may be a titratable agent to diminish platelet activation and thus preserve platelet function. Dose-response measurement of platelet aggregation by GSNO was performed using an aggregometer.

Noninvasive monitoring of hemodynamic stress using quantitative near-infrared frequency-domain photon migration spectroscopy.

Hemorrhagic hypovolemia and inotropic agent administration were used to manipulate cardiac output (CO) and oxygen delivery in rabbits to investigate the correlation between noninvasive frequency domain photon migration (FDPM) spectroscopy and invasive hemodynamic monitoring parameters. Frequency-domain photon migration provides quantitative measurements of light absorption and reduced scattering (mu(a) and mu(s)(prime prime or minute), respectively) in tissue. Wavelength dependent mu(a) values were used to calculate in vivo tissue concentration of deoxyhemoglobin [Hb], oxyhemoglobin [HbO(2)], total hemoglobin [TotHb], and water [H(2)O] as well as mixed arterial-venous oxygen saturation (S(t)O(2)) in tissue.