Off-pump epicardial ventricular reconstruction restores left ventricular twist and reverses remodeling in an ovine anteroapical aneurysm model

Objective The loss of normal apical rotation is associated with left ventricular (LV) remodeling and systolic dysfunction in patients with congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of epicardial ventricular reconstruction, an off-pump, less-invasive surgical reshaping technique, on myocardial strain, LV twist, and the potential alteration of myocardial fiber orientation in an ovine model of LV anteroapical aneurysm. Methods LV anteroapical myocardial infarction was induced by coil embolization of the left anterior descending artery. Eight weeks after occlusion, epicardial ventricular reconstruction was performed using left thoracotomy under fluoroscopic guidance in 8 sheep to completely exclude the scar. The peak systolic longitudinal/circumferential strains and LV twist were evaluated using speckle tracking echocardiography before (baseline), after device implantation, and at 6 weeks of follow-up. Results Epicardial ventricular reconstruction was completed in all sheep without any complications. Immediately after device implantation, LV twist significantly increased (4.18 ± 1.40 vs baseline 1.97 ± 1.92; P =.02). The ejection fraction had increased 17% and LV end-systolic volume had decreased 40%. The global longitudinal strain increased from -5.3% to -9.1% (P <.05). Circumferential strain increased in both middle and apical LV segments, with the greatest improvement in the inferior lateral wall (from -11.4% to -20.6%, P <.001). These effects were maintained ≤6 weeks after device implantation without redilation. Conclusions Less invasive than alternative therapies, epicardial ventricular reconstruction on the off-pump beating heart can restore LV twist and systolic strain and reverse LV remodeling in an ovine anteroapical aneurysm model.