Technique for heterotopic pig heart xenotransplantation in primates

The primate is a commonly utilized model for the human immune response after heart transplantation. This report describes our experience with heterotopic abdominal transplantation of porcine hearts into primate recipients. Abdominal graft placement was surprisingly well tolerated, and we found this approach to be particularly useful in the setting of significant donor-recipient size mismatch. Continuous monitoring with an implantable monitoring system facilitated assessment of graft viability in awake recipients; progressive graft bradycardia and decreasing QRS amplitude were predictive of ensuing graft failure. (C) 1999 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.