Detecting myocardial ischaemia using miniature ultrasonic transducers — a feasibility study in a porcine model☆

Abstract

The epicardial transducers provided continuous assessment of regional myocardial function and detected ischaemia with high sensitivity and specificity. Further development of this system may provide a useful tool for myocardial monitoring during and after cardiac surgery.

Automated detection of myocardial ischaemia by epicardial miniature ultrasound transducers — a novel tool for patient monitoring during cardiac surgery☆

“…Newer echocardiographic techniques such as tissue Doppler velocity or 2D speckle strain enable more precise evaluation of myocardial function, and may permit automatic signal analysis. The automated detection of myocardial ischaemia by epicardial miniature ultrasound transducers described in this study is based on recent echocardiographic methods, which have demonstrated excellent abilities to assess myocardial function [6]. Systolic wall thickening reflects the changes in longitudinal and circumferential shortening, and decreases rapidly after acute coronary occlusion in experimental studies [10,11].…”

“…We have developed an ultrasonic system with transducers fixed on the epicardium for continuous regional myocardial monitoring. This ultrasound system has demonstrated good ability to detect myocardial ischaemia in an experimental coronary occlusion model [6]. To investigate the clinical usefulness of this ultrasound system, we tested the epicardial transducers in patients scheduled for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).…”

Continuous Monitoring of Regional Function by a Miniaturized Ultrasound Transducer Allows Early Quantification of Low-Grade Myocardial Ischemia

“…Recently, an ultrasonic transducer was developed and validated at the Intervention Centre, which can be attached to the epicardium [34]. The method enables continuous monitoring of heart wall contractions by use of an M-mode image and real-time calculation of myocardial velocities.…”

Transmural myocardial strain distribution measured at high spatial and temporal resolution

“…The animal model has been described previously by Espinoza et al [4]. Five recordings were made during baseline conditions between cardiovascular interventions [4].…”