Age-dependent sensitivity to unprotected cardiac ischemia: the senescent myocardium.

Six young, sexually mature sheep and seven senescent sheep (aged 0.75 +/- 0.11 years and 7.1 +/- 0.45 years) were instrumented with sonomicrometric crystals and micromanometers to assess global left ventricular mechanics while preload was varied during right heart bypass both before and 30 minutes after 15 minutes of global normothermic ischemia. Left ventricular weight and end-diastolic volume were not significantly different between age groups when indexed to body weight. Contractility was quantitated by the slope of the linear preload-recruitable stroke work relationship and diastolic mechanics by an exponential end-diastolic pressure versus volume function generated over physiologic cardiac workloads. Postischemic systolic functional recovery was markedly worse in the older group (22.7% +/- 10.7% versus 54.2% +/- 9.5%, old versus young, p less than 0.05). However, diastolic stiffness was not changed in either group postischemically. These data demonstrate that the senescent myocardium is less tolerant of ischemia and may require specific intraoperative myocardial management strategies to preserve global pump function.