Serial cardiac function studies were carried out during a 24-hour preservation in a new autoperfusion multiorgan preparation using adult Yorkshire swine (n = 8). The heart was removed with the lungs, liver, pancreas, duodenum, and both kidneys while they were still perfused by the heart and oxygenated by the lungs. The organs were placed in a 32 degrees C bath solution containing lactated Ringer's, heparin, and neomycin. Fresh blood and a solution containing glucose (10%) with potassium chloride (2 gm/L), calcium chloride (1 gm/L), heparin sodium (100 mg/L), mannitol (12.5 gm/L), insulin (100 U/L), metronidazole hydrochloride (500 mg/L), penicillin (1,000,000 U/L), and methylprednisolone (250 mg/L) were given slowly through the portal vein. A fat emulsion 2 ml, methylprednisolone 30 mg, and heparin sodium 20 mg were given through the portal vein every 2 hours. No inotropic drugs were used. Aortic systolic pressures ranged from 79 to 97 mm Hg; the aortic diastolic pressures ranged from 44 to 61 mm Hg. Central venous pressures ranged from 0.4 to 2.0 mm Hg, and the heart rate was 69 to 81 beats/min. Left ventricular maximum dp/dt ranged from 1405 to 1836 mm Hg/sec, and maximum dp/dt/p ranged from 17.0 to 26.2 (sec-1). Aortic blood flow ranged from 1.2 to 1.6 L/min, and systemic resistance ranged from 33 to 53 U. Lactic acid decreased from 8.15 to 2.80 mmol/L. Myocardium wet/dry weight ratio after preservation averaged 5.13 (vs 5.09 for control). These results suggest that the heart may be preserved up to 24 hours with minimal change in function with this new autoperfusion preparation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)