Contrast echocardiography can assess risk area and infarct size during coronary occlusion and reperfusion: experimental validation

Abstract

Real-time contrast echocardiography defect size varies throughout microbubble refilling. Appropriately selected defect sizes and refilling parameters provide estimates of RA and IA during coronary occlusion and reperfusion.

Evaluation of Risk Area by Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography with a New Computer-aided Method

“…In addition, in Groups I and II, MCE with the new technique did not find the infarct size, indicating that short coronary occlusion was not enough to produce myocardial infarction. The results were confirmed by TTC and consistent with previous studies showing that short occlusions in the myocardium (＜45 min) followed by reperfusion resulted in myocardial stunning [3,4].…”

“…Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) has been used to gain new insight into diagnosis of myocardial infarct (MI) and/or myocardial ischemia [1][2][3][4]. Because contrast agent has similar rheology as red blood cells within the microcirculation, MCE can also assess the myocardial capillary perfusion after thrombolytic therapy or percutaneous coronary intervention [5][6][7].…”

The Role of Cardiac Ultrasound in Stem Cell Therapy

“…Data exist that absolute myocardial blood flow can be determined using continuous infusion of a microsphere solution and subsequent imaging following destructive ultrasound pulses [25,26]. Reduced ultrasonic signal intensity (defect) by this technique has been shown to be relatively sensitive and specific for the detection of ischemia [27] and can quantify infarct size and area at risk associated with ischemia [28]. In addition, contrast ultrasound assessment of perfusion has been shown to have additional prognostic value in patients undergoing stress testing [29].…”

Adaptive attenuation correction in contrast echo

“…Quantitative evaluation of left ventricular myocardial perfusion using contrast echocardiography has been the subject of numerous studies for well over a decade (e.g., [1][2][3][4]). It has the potential to partially replace SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography) imaging, which is much more expensive and timeconsuming than echocardiography, and to reduce the need for invasive procedures, such as exploratory angiography.…”