Spleeno-Myocardial Pexia as a Method for Myocardial Revascularization:A Micro-angiographic and Histologic Study in the Dog

Abstract

In 20 dogs, the spleen was split in two parts, and the cranial portion was pulled through the diaphragm and sutured to the heart. In 8 of 12 dogs, the epicardium was peeled off. In 9 of the dogs local myocardial is-chaemia was attempted by ligating coronary artery branches and in one dog an aluminium needle was inserted into a coronary artery so as to produce gradual thrombosis. The dogs were killed or died 2–111 days after the operation. The heart and spleen were removed en bloc. Mixobar was injected through the splenic artery at a pressure of about 80 mm Hg. A good filling of the splenic vasculature was produced in 12 specimens. These were used for further examinations. Fibrosis was found in the “contact area” between the spleen and myocardium of dogs surviving more than 7 days. The degree of fibrosis was roughly correlated to survival time. Contrast medium was found in the “contact area” in all but 2 of the 12 specimens. This was seen as early as 2 days after the operation and also in dogs with intact epicardium. Contrast medium in the coronary vessels was found in one specimen. Spleeno-myocardial pexia does not appear to be a worthwhile method for producing myocardial revas-cularization in dogs.