Preparation of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract (LVOT) from Porcine Heart for Cannulation

To begin, collect a fresh porcine cardiac specimen after cardiectomy. Dissect the pulmonary artery off the aorta with Metzenbaum scissors until ventricular tissue is visible. Then, dissect the right and the left coronary arteries, and ligate them using silk ties at their origin from the aortic sinuses without narrowing the sinuses.

Transect the coronary arteries distal to the silk ties. Using Metzenbaum scissors, incise the right ventricle between the aorta and the pulmonary artery at the base of the pulmonary valve. Beginning anteriorly, continue the incision circumferentially along the intraventricular septum to remove the right ventricle free wall.

Continue the incision posteriorly through the tricuspid valve annulus along the interatrial septum to remove all right atrial tissue. Next, using Metzenbaum scissors, incise the left atrium through the right pulmonary vein ostium parallel to the aorta. Continue this incision towards the anterolateral commissure of the mitral valve.

Trim excess left atrium tissue while maintaining the three millimeter cuff of atrial tissue on the aorta and the mitral valve annulus circumferentially. Now, extend the incision onto the left ventricle through the anterolateral commissure of the mitral valve without damaging the anterolateral papillary muscle. Divide the chordae tendineae from the anterolateral papillary muscle to the posterior mitral valve leaflet, preserving attachments to the anterior mitral valve leaflet.

Extend the incision to the apex of the heart. Trim excess left ventricle tissue below the papillary muscles, preserving both papillary muscles.