Morphometric analysis of miniature swine hearts as potential human xenografts

Abstract

Miniature swine are considered to be potential donors for clinical cardiac transplantation. However, it is unclear how an appropriately sized porcine donor will be selected for a particular human recipient. To address this issue, we performed a morphometric study of the swine heart using transthoracic echocardiography (n = 26) to determine the diameters of the aortic annulus and root, pulmonary artery annulus, and mitral valve annulus. We also obtained direct ex vivo measurements of swine heart weight and linear dimensions (n = 71). Relationships between a swine's height, weight, length, chest circumference and these internal and external cardiac dimensions are described. The strongest correlations were found between a pig's body length and its aortic annulus and root diameters (r-values = 0.97). These relationships are accurately described by univariate linear regression models. By cross-relating our morphometric measurements of aortic annulus diameter in the miniature swine with normative human data, we were able to develop a nomogram, relating swine length and human height, which predicts which miniature swine would donate the best size-matched heart for a particular human recipient.

Experimentally modified Fontan circulation in an adolescent pig model without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass

“…This technique takes into consideration the rheometry of blood in this particular anatomic area. The diameters of the conduits were similar to those of the superior and the inferior vena cavae [18]. Furthermore, with this technique anastomoses were performed by suturing the graft to the caval veins, rather than inserting the graft intraluminally [13,16].…”

Anatomical Study on the Surgical Technique Used for Xenotransplantation: Porcine Hearts Into Humans

“…To estimate the proportions of the porcine heart beforehand, the published correlations between porcine cardiac morphology and parameters easy to measure from the outside view will help in donor selection. Allan et al [24] demonstrated that pigs' body weight strongly correlates with the their heart weight, length, width, and depth. The diameters of the aortic root and the main pulmonary artery correlate with the pigs' length.…”

A Novel Lead Configuration for Optimal Spatio-Temporal Detection of Intracardiac Repolarization Alternans

“…To adjust the alternans voltage threshold to a level suitable for the anesthetized swine, we scaled the human alternans voltage threshold by the ratio of the mass of the average 40 kg swine heart, 177 g 41 , to the mass of the average human heart, 320 g (0.55). We accordingly implemented a swine body surface alternans voltage threshold of 0.55 μV.…”