Surgical Swine Model of Chronic Cardiac Ischemia Treated by Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Summary

This protocol presents a surgical large animal model of chronic, single vessel ischemia that results in regional abnormalities but does not create infarct, known as hibernating myocardium. Following establishment of chronic ischemia, animals are treated with off-pump LIMA-LAD coronary artery bypass graft surgery to revascularize the ischemic tissue.

Abstract

Chronic cardiac ischemia that impairs cardiac function, but does not result in infarct, is termed hibernating myocardium (HM). A large clinical subset of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients have HM, which in addition to causing impaired function, puts them at higher risk for arrhythmia and future cardiac events. The standard treatment for this condition is revascularization, but this has been shown to be an imperfect therapy. The majority of pre-clinical cardiac research focuses on infarct models of cardiac ischemia, leaving this subset of chronic ischemia patients largely underserved. To address this gap in research, we have developed a well-characterized and highly reproducible model of hibernating myocardium in swine, as swine are ideal translational models for human heart disease. In addition to creating this unique disease model, we have optimized a clinically relevant treatment model of coronary artery bypass surgery in swine. This allows us to accurately study the effects of bypass surgery on heart disease, as well as investigate additional or alternate therapies. This model surgically induces single vessel stenosis by implanting a constrictor on the left anterior descending (LAD) artery in a young pig. As the pig grows, the constrictor creates a gradual stenosis, resulting in chronic ischemia with impaired regional function, but preserving tissue viability. Following the establishment of the hibernating myocardium phenotype, we perform off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery to revascularize the ischemic region, mimicking the gold-standard treatment for patients in the clinic.

Introduction

Coronary heart disease (CHD) affects an estimated 15.5 million people in the United States ¹ and is one of the leading causes of death globally. While the mortality rate associated with CHD has gone down in recent years, the incidence and burden on patients and the health care system remain high ¹. Primary treatment of severe CAD is revascularization, which improves survival and reduces angina^2,3,4. However, cardiac function often remains depressed, especially under increased workload and can progress to heart failure

Protocol

All animal studies were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and the University of Minnesota. Follow current National Institutes of Health guidelines for the use and care of laboratory animals.

1. Hibernation Surgery

1. Animal Preparation
   1. To create a model of hibernating myocardium, use 5-week old, female, Yorkshire pigs, which weigh in the range of 8-10 kg with 9.2 kg as the average weight.
   2. For pre-surgical health monitoring, weigh the animal within 3 days prior to surgery.
   3. Fast the animal for 12 h before starting anesthesia. Ensure that....

Results

Following the initial hibernation surgery, stenosis greater than 70% should be able to be observed by clinical imaging techniques such as angiography or cardiac MRI (Figure 1A). 8 weeks following the surgical application of the LAD constrictor, analysis of regional function by ECHO or cardiac MRI reveals reduced function under increased workload (Figure 2). This can be tested by stimulating the heart with dobutam.......

Discussion

Here, we show that our swine model of HM accurately mimics the clinical experience of patients with single vessel disease and preserved left ventricular function. Prior to the revascularization, animals with single vessel HM exhibit minimal impairment in global function as measured by ejection fraction, but show significant reduction in regional wall thickening. Following the revascularization, CMR imaging at one or three months of recovery demonstrates preserved viability and graft patency but persistent regional dysfun.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Bair Hugger	3M	Model 505	Patient Warming system
SR Buprenorphine 10 mg/mL	Abbott Labs	NADA 141-434	Post operative Analgesic
Surgical Spring Clip	Applied Medical	A1801	Clamp end of LIMA after takedown
Arterial Line Kit	Arrow	ASK-04510-HF	Femoral catheter for blood pressure monitoring
1000mL 0.9% Sodium chloride	Baxter	2B1324X	IV replacement fluid
250 mL 0.9% saline	Baxter	UE1322D	Replacement IV Fluid
500mL 0.9% Sodium chloride	Baxter	2B1323Q	Drug delivery, Provide mist for Blower Mister
Flo-thru 1.0	Baxter	FT-12100	used to anastomos LIMA to L
Flo-thru 1.25	Baxter	FT-12125
Flo-thru 1.5	Baxter	FT-12150
Flo-thru 2.0	Baxter	FT-12200
Cloroprep	Becton Dickenson	260815	Surgical skin prep
Meloxicam	Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.	0010-6013-01	NSAID for analgesia
Hypafix	BSN Medical	4210	Secure wound dressing and IV catheters
IV Tubing for Blower Mister	Carefusion	42493E	Adapts to IV Fluids for Blower/Mister
Bovie Cautery hand piece	Covidien	E2516	Hemostasis
Chest Tube	Covidien	8888561043	Evacuates air from chest cavity
Monopolar Cautery	Covidien	Valleylab FT10	Hemostasis
Telpha pad	Covidien	2132	Sterile wound dressing
4-0 Tevdek II Strands	Deknatel	7-922	Suture to secure constrictor around LAD
Propofol	Diprivan	269-29	Induction agent
long blade for laryngoscope	DRE	12521	Allows for visualization of trachea for intubation
ECG Pads	DRE	1496	Monitor heart rhythm
laryngoscope	DRE	12515
Anesthesia Machine + ventilator	DRE Drager- Fabius Tiro	DRE0603FT	Deliver Oxygen and inhalant to patient
5 Ethibond	Ethicon	MG46G	Suture
0 Vicryl	Ethicon	J208H	Suture
2-0 Vicryl	Ethicon	J317H	Suture
3-0 Vicryl	Ethicon	VCP824G	Suture
7-0 Prolene	Ethicon	M8702	Suture
Dermabond	Ethicon	DNX12	Skin adhesive
Ligaclips	Ethicon	MSC20	Surgical Staples for LIMA takedown
Sterile Saline 20 mL	Fisher Scientific	20T700220	Flush for IV catheters
Telazol 100 mg/mL	Fort Dodge	01L60030	Pre operative Sedative
Triple Antibiotic Ointment	Johnson & Johnson	23734	Topical over wound
6.0 mm ID endotracheal tube	Mallinckrodt	86049	Establish airway for Revasc,MRI and Termination
1" medical tape	Medline	MMM15271Z	Secure wound dressing and IV catheters
4.0 mm ID endotracheal tube	Medline	DYND43040	Establish airway for Hibernation
4.5 mm ID endotracheal tube	Medline	DYND43045	Establish airway for Hibernation
5.0 mm ID endotracheal tube	Medline	DYND43050	Establish airway for Hibernation
6.5 mm ID endotracheal tube	Medline	DYND43065	Establish airway for Revasc,MRI and Termination
7.0 mm ID endotracheal tube	Medline	DYND43070	Establish airway for Revasc,MRI and Termination
Bair Hugger Blanket -  Large size, underbody	Medline	AUG55501	Patient Warming system
Basic pack	Medline	DYNJP1000	Sterile drapes and table cover
Bone Wax	Medline	ETHW31G	Hemostasis of cut bone
Suction  tubing	Medline	DYND50223
Suction Container	Medline	DYNDCL03000
1 mL Syringe	Medtronic/Covidien	1188100777	Administer injectable agents
12 mL Syringe	Medtronic/Covidien	8881512878	Administer injectable agents
20 mL Syringe	Medtronic/Covidien	8881520657	Administer injectable agents
3 mL Syinge	Medtronic/Covidien	1180300555	Administer injectable agents
6  mL Syringe	Medtronic/Covidien	1180600777	Administer injectable agents
60 mL Syringe	Medtronic/Covidien	8881560125	Administer injectable agents
Blower Mister Kit	Medtronic/Covidien	22120	Clears surgical field for vessel anastomosis
Roncuronium	Mylan	67457-228-05	Neuromuscular blocking agent
# 40 clipper blade	Oster	078919-016-701	Remove hair from surgery sites
Hair Clipper	Oster	078566-011-002	Remove hair from surgery sites
Bupivicaine	Pfizer	00409-1161-01	Local Anesthetic
Cephazolin	Pfizer	00409-0805-01	Antibiotic
Heparin	Pfizer	0409-2720-03	anticoaggulant
Lidocaine 2%	Pfizer	00409-4277-01	Local Anesthetic/ antiarrthymic
Succinylcholine 20 mg/mL	Pfizer	00409-6629-02	Neuromuscular blocking agent
Anesthesia Monitor	Phillips  Intellivue	MP70	Supports ventilation with inhalant
Artificial Tears	Rugby	0536-1086-91	Lubricate eyes to prevent corneal drying
Buprenorphine 0.3 mg/mL	Sigma Aldrich	B9275	Pre operative Analgesic for survivial procedures
Isoflurane	Sigma Aldrich	CDS019936	General Anesthestic- Inhalant
36” Pressure monitoring tubing	Smith’s Medical	MX563	Connect art. Line  to transducer
48” Pressure monitoring tubing	Smith’s Medical	MX564	Connect art. Line  to transducer
Jelco 18 ga IV catheter	Smiths medical	4054	IV access in Revasc, MRI and Term
Jelco 20 ga IV catheter	Smiths medical	4059	IV access in the MRI
Jelco 22 ga  IV catheter	Smiths medical	4050	IV access in Hibernation Procedure
OPVAC Synergy II	Terumo Cardiovascular System	401-230	Heart positioner and Stabilizer
Sternal Saw/ Necropsy Saw	Thermo Fisher	812822	Used to open chest cavity
Delrin Constrictor	U of MN	Custom made	Creates stenosis of LAD
Oxygen Tank E cylinder	various	various	Used for Blower Mister if anesthesia machine doesn't have auxiliary flow meter
Pressure Transducer	various	Must adapt to anesthesia monitor	Monitor direct arterial pressures
Xylazine 100 mg/mL	Vedco	468RX	Pre operative Sedative/ analgesic