Microdialysis of blood from the cardiac venous outflow: a technique for monitoring myocardial ischemia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possibility of using microdialysis of blood from the great cardiac vein for detecting myocardial ischemia.


METHODS
Microdialysis catheters were placed in the great cardiac vein and the left atrium of pigs for analysis of lactate, glycerol, pyruvate and glucose. Blood samples were drawn for measurement of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase and myoglobin with the objective of verifying myocardial damage. Ischemia was induced for 3 h.


RESULTS
Fifteen minutes after induction of ischemia a significant elevation of lactate to 917 +/- 223%; p < 0.001 in the great cardiac vein could be registered. No significant changes in lactate levels were detected in the left atrium. Changes in glycerol and pyruvate showed similar patterns, with an increase to 722 +/- 297%; p < 0.001 and to 281 +/- 56%; p < 0.05, respectively. The outflow of aspartate aminotransferase and myoglobine in the great cardiac vein increased significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Early detection of metabolic substances is possible through the assessment of metabolic substances using microdialysis in the great cardiac vein.
Lockowandt
U
U
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. ulflockowandt@yahoo.com
Liska
J
J
Bäckström
T
T
Franco-Cereceda
A
A
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D006439:Hemodynamics; D017551:Microdialysis / Q000379:methods*; D023421:Models, Animal; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013552:Swine
D015415:Biomarkers