Coronary Flow Distribution and Dynamics During Continuous and Pulsatile Extracorporeal Circulation in the Pig

Cardiopulmonary bypass with physiological flow and pressure curves: pulse is unnecessary!☆

“…By using pulsatile perfusion, we found only a trend towards lower lactate levels, even with little advantage of physiologically induced flow by the pulsator. The results of two former studies using pulsatile flow have been controversial: one verified an effect on lactate levels [24], the other did not [25].…”

Myocardial protection in the failing heart: II. Effect of pulsatile cardioplegic perfusion under simulated left ventricular restoration

“…Unfortunately, ventricular fibrillation may impair subendocardial perfusion if there is associated coronary stenosis, 7 ventricular hypertrophy, 8 or inotropic stimulation with catecholamines. 9 Although the benefits of pulsatile flow are debated, [10][11][12] they seem to enhance regional and transmural myocardial flow 13 and metabolism 14 in fibrillating hearts with critical coronary stenoses 15,16 or ventricular hypertrophy. 17,18 The effects of pulsatility have not been studied for cardioplegic distribution, especially in failing hearts that require left ventricular restoration treatment.…”