Open thoracic surgical implantation of cardiac pacemakers in rats

Rose T. Yin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Sheena W. Chen, Department of Surgery, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
K Benjamin Lee, Department of Surgery, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Yeon Sik Choi, Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
Jahyun Koo, Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
Quansan Yang, Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
Michael A. Napolitano, Department of Surgery, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Jokubas Ausra, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Timothy J. Holleran, Department of General Surgery, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.
Jessica B. Lapiano, Department of General Surgery, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.
E Alex Waters, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
Anlil Brikha, Center for Advanced Molecular Imaging, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
Grant Kowalik, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Alana N. Miniovich, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Helen S. Knight, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Bender A. Russo, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Alexi Kiss, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Alejandro Murillo-Berlioz, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Washington DC, USA.
Tatiana Efimova, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Chad R. Haney, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
Philipp Gutruf, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
John A. Rogers, Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
Gregory D. Trachiotis, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Igor R. Efimov, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA. igor.efimov@northwestern.edu.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

11-21-2022

Journal

Nature protocols

DOI

10.1038/s41596-022-00770-y

Abstract

Genetic engineering and implantable bioelectronics have transformed investigations of cardiovascular physiology and disease. However, the two approaches have been difficult to combine in the same species: genetic engineering is applied primarily in rodents, and implantable devices generally require larger animal models. We recently developed several miniature cardiac bioelectronic devices suitable for mice and rats to enable the advantages of molecular tools and implantable devices to be combined. Successful implementation of these device-enabled studies requires microsurgery approaches that reliably interface bioelectronics to the beating heart with minimal disruption to native physiology. Here we describe how to perform an open thoracic surgical technique for epicardial implantation of wireless cardiac pacemakers in adult rats that has lower mortality than transvenous implantation approaches. In addition, we provide the methodology for a full biocompatibility assessment of the physiological response to the implanted device. The surgical implantation procedure takes ~40 min for operators experienced in microsurgery to complete, and six to eight surgeries can be completed in 1 d. Implanted pacemakers provide programmed electrical stimulation for over 1 month. This protocol has broad applications to harness implantable bioelectronics to enable fully conscious in vivo studies of cardiovascular physiology in transgenic rodent disease models.

Department

Surgery

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