Longitudinal Reinforcement of Acute Myocardial Infarcts Improves Function by Transmurally Redistributing Stretch and Stress

A wide range of emerging therapies, from surgical restraint to biomaterial injection to tissue engineering, aim to improve heart function and limit adverse remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI). We previously showed that longitudinal surgical reinforcement of large anterior infarcts in dogs could significantly enhance systolic function without restricting diastolic function, but the underlying mechanisms for this improvement are poorly...