Purpose: To describe technical aspects of a new experimental model that simulates a non heart beating organ donor.
Methods: Landrace pigs were operated on and cardiac arrest was obtained by means of myocardial infarction and interruption of ventilator support.
Results: Mean cardiac frequency, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, central venous pressure, oxygen saturation and concentration of expired CO(2) dropout occurred at seven minutes after cardiac arrest.
Conclusion: The procedure was easily reproduced and a homogeneous circulatory failure could de obtained by the end of seven minutes. The model is suitable for further studies regarding abdominal organ transplantation.