Simulation of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: MRI and MDCT Assessment of Coronary Microemboli

Maythem Saeed¹, Loi Do¹, Steven W. Hetts¹, Mark Wilson¹

The purpose of this transitional study was to determine threshold microemboli volume that causes visible microinfarct on MRI and MDCT. Cardiac injury biomarkers and histochemical staining were used to confirm the presence of myocardial injury. Pigs (n=18) received either 16mm3 or 32mm3 volumes of 40-120μm diameter microemboli. Three days after intervention contrast enhanced MDCT and MRI were performed. A threshold method was used to measure microinfarct on MRI/MDCT. Creatine-kinase MB, troponin I and triphenyltetrazolium chloride stain were used to confirmed myocardial injury. MRI and MDCT may be useful in evaluating the effectiveness of new therapies and future distal filtration devices.