In my opinion the best way to create a model of heart failure in pigs is LAD Ligation. We simultaneously measure the ejection fraction (EF), and control the decrease in the EF to the desired level.

I have worked with LAD ligation too. It develops a fine model on heart failure with ischemic ethnology, triggering remodeling after ischemia. If you are considering a non-ischemia-like model, it's far more complex.

Take care with BBlockers treatment in pigs because in my experience (mostly with large white breed) they are quite resistant to their effects so I do not think so that esmolol model was a good idea for creating HF models in pig. 

As my other colleges said, LAD occlusion should be the best option. I recommend you to make it proximal, it will increase the mortality but also the opportunity to develop HF (with small infarct the remote territory supply more or less properly cardiac function).

Regarding other non ischemic options, I have also experience in aortic banding models. They are suppose to develop HF in a long term. But again, pigs are so resistant and the remodelling in this approach is quite challenge. I would only recommend if you have a slow growth breed (like minipig) because requires quite more time.

Kind regards! (:

I suggest you need to consider the etiology of heart failure you intend to study, such ischemia and non-ischemia (change of preload or afterload), and as well the design of the cardiac assistant device (for ischemic or nonischemic HF or both). 

Dear Antoine,

based on answer on your question what method you chose?

Hello everyone,

Regarding all your answers and the discussions I had with local thoracic surgeon, I will go for LAD occlusion. Ischemic HF will be a good etiology for my research.

Thank ou for your kind answers.

Best regards !