It has been Suggested that ventricular volume reduction surgery can reconstitute stress-strain relations of the left ventricle. Based oil a cylindrical model of the left ventricle, regional force-length relationships were computed to predict the effects of volume reduction. Free wall plication, a recently developed operation method for ventricular reduction was performed in 6 anesthetized dogs with pacing induced heart failure. Intraoperative pressure-volume analysis was performed by the conductance catheter technique and regional force-length relationships were calculated to achieve optimal reshaping of the left ventricle. Computer modelling allowed the optimization of preoperative planning and maximalizing force-length relationships intraopratively. Furthermore, free wall plication can be performed without cardiopulmonary bypass and thereby provides a less invasive approach for ventricular reconstruction. (c) 2005 CARS & Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.