The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 88, 128-133, Copyright © 1984 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Effect of the positioning of a balloon valve in the aorta on coronary flow during aortic regurgitation
PG Antonatos, LP Anthopoulos, DD Kandyla, AD Karras and SD Moulopoulos
The coronary artery flow changes relative to the function of a catheter-
mounted balloon valve used for relief of aortic regurgitation were studied
in 10 mongrel dogs. Acute aortic regurgitation was produced by severing the
aortic cusps with a long needle. Coronary flow was recorded from the left
anterior descending coronary artery through an electromagnetic flowmeter.
When the balloon was functioning within the cavity of the left ventricle
there were no significant changes in the coronary flow and aortic pressure,
except for a slight decrease in the aortic end-diastolic pressure. When it
was functioning in the aortic ring the coronary flow increased 6.52 +/-
1.65 ml/min/100 gm of myocardium (p less than 0.001) and became
predominantly diastolic. When it was functioning in the ascending aorta the
coronary flow decreased 6.22 +/- 1.16 ml/min/100 gm of myocardium (p less
than 0.001) and remained predominantly systolic. Finally, when the balloon
was functioning in the thoracic aorta the coronary flow did not change
significantly. With the balloon functioning in the aortic ring, ascending
aorta, or thoracic aorta, there was a significant increase in the aortic
end-diastolic pressure and decrease in the pulse pressure distal to the
location of the balloon. It is concluded that the location of the balloon
valve inserted for relief of aortic regurgitation influences the effect on
coronary arterial flow.
