[Preservation of hearts by perfusion under pressure]

Development of method used to fix hearts in a reduced time, with preservation of their structures and characteristics.Fifty normal human hearts were fixed in a system with four reservoirs, a roller pump, PVC tubes and a plastic recipient. This system was used to maintain the continuous injection by pressure of formaldehyde solution, to the interior of the heart.The fixation was satisfactory, pré-fixation time (13.93 +/- 5.13 min) and fixation time (60.53 +/- 12.50 min) were reduced related to previously utilized methods.The method was good, with decrease of fixation time and obtention of fixed hearts, with preservation of their structures and characteristics.