Ex-Vivo Slaughterhouse Porcine Crystalloid-Perfused Beating Heart via Langendorff Method

The objective of this study was to resuscitate isolated beating porcine hearts obtained from slaughterhouse swine for a minimum of 1 hour with a crystalloid buffer reperfusion instead of blood via an extracorporeal Langendorff apparatus. The isolated beating heart functions outside of the body under simulated physiologic conditions. Live functional anatomy was controlled under benchtop experimental settings. Porcine hearts (26 total) were topically cooled with saline. 300mL of 25°C cardioplegia with 20KU Streptokinase was preflushed via aortic root. WIT was less than 5 minutes. 1L 4°C cardioplegia was flushed antegrade with aortic cannula (Group 1) or coronary catheterization (Group 2). Each heart was kept in 4°C 1L modified Plegisol storage for >1 hour cold ischemic time prior to resuscitation. Hearts were submerged in 500mL of 15°C and 25°C Krebs Henseleit buffer prior to being mounted on the Langendorff apparatus. Hearts were resuscitated by 5L of 37°C oxygenated modified Krebs Hensleit buffer circulation. Low WIT, Streptokinase, and coronary catheterization resulted in 1 hour global contraction, and 110bpm stabilized sinus rhythm. ECG displayed prominent QRS complex. Significant calcium overload and edema inhibited contractile function at 1 hr. The Langendorff beating heart apparatus will serve as a platform for further biomedical engineering research to evaluate the efficacy of medical devices such as heart valves and validate computational simulations.