Experimental heart preservation for 24 hours: benefits of PGE1 in a nonpulsatile coronary perfusion solution.

Adult mongrel dogs weighing between 19 and 28 kg were anesthesized with phentobarbital (30 mg/kg IV). A right thoracotomy incision was made. The aorta was clamped and 250 mL of standard cardioplegic solution was administered. The heart was extracted, sectioning the aorta, pulmonary artery, vena cavas, and pulmonary veins at the level of its pericardial reflection. Once the heart was removed, it was connected to the NPCP.