Doppler energy: a new acquisition technique for the transthoracic detection of myocardial perfusion defects with the use of a venous contrast agent.
OBJECTIVE
This animal experiment was designed to study whether the new technique of Doppler energy imaging could display myocardial perfusion abnormalities with the use of a combination of transthoracic imaging and right atrial injection of a myocardial contrast agent.


RESULTS
A series of 11 pigs were studied during (1) normal perfusion, (2) dipyridamole-induced coronary dilatation, and (3) during and after temporary occlusion of the left anterior descending or circumflex artery after a right atrial injection of 8 ml Levovist, 400 mg/ml. Short-axis views were obtained with the four following imaging modes: gray scale imaging (two-dimensional and M-mode), Doppler energy imaging (two-dimensional and M-mode). Visual inspection and off-line video densitometry (results expressed in arbitrary videointensity units 0 to 255) with digital background subtraction were performed. Doppler energy was significantly more sensitive in detecting the presence of contrast than gray scale imaging (background subtracted peak videointensity 32 +/- 17 versus 17 +/- 12, p < 0.001). Mean background-subtracted videointensity increased during dipyridamole-induced coronary hyperemia (40 +/- 14 versus 31 +/- 9, p < 0.003) using Doppler energy technique. Doppler energy imaging consistently detected absent perfusion (background subtracted videointensity -6 +/- 6) and immediate reperfusion (background subtracted peak videointensity 29 +/- 15, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
With the use of a galactose-based contrast agent, Doppler energy data acquisition was superior to standard gray scale imaging in transthoracic evaluation of regional myocardial perfusion, absence of perfusion, and reperfusion.
Tuchnitz
A
A
Med. Klinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität, Munich, Germany.
von Bibra
H
H
Sutherland
G R
GR
Erhardt
W
W
Henke
J
J
Schömig
A
A
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008863:Microspheres; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013552:Swine
D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; C059891:SHU 508