Nature of inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmias in a canine chronic myocardial infarction model.

A canine model suitable for serial conscious studies was developed to evaluate the nature of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias in chronic experimental myocardial infarction. Thirteen dogs underwent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation followed by complete reperfusion; 11 sham-operated dogs served as controls. In this model, ventricular tachyarrhythmias are inducible in most dogs with experimental infarction and in several dogs without this condition. The morphologic features, rate and drug response of the induced arrhythmias are unlike those of human ventricular tachycardia. Tachyarrhythmia induction is facilitated by anesthesia and thoracotomy. This canine infarct model does not adequately imitate human recurrent ventricular tachycardia, but may simulate human sudden cardiac death.