An Experimental Method for the Study of Aortic Insufficiency

Abstract

A method is presented for the experimental creation and correction of acute and chronic aortic insufficiency in dogs. Fifteen animals with acute, 11 with chronic, and 5 with corrected aortic insufficiency were studied. In all animals, mean central aortic blood pressure [see Table in PDF] was essentially normal, while pulse pressure was widened in the acute and chronic states, returning to normal with valvular repair. In the acute state, 41 per cent regurgitation was achieved without a significant alteration in stroke volume. However, in the chronic preperations, when 49 per cent regurgitation was present, there was a 70 per cent increase in stroke volume, accompanied by cardiac hypertrophy. Valvular repair in four of five animals reduced the aortic regurgitation to less than 10 per cent without altering cardiac output. Because of the consistent and predictable results, this method can be used for studies of the pathophysiological alterations attendant upon aortic insufficiency in humans.