A new echocardiographic system for assessment of epicardial and intramyocardial coronary flow in a swine model.
OBJECTIVE
To visualize epicardial and intramyocardial coronary blood flow by using a noninvasive echocardiography system.


METHODS
In five juvenile swines, coronary flow imaging was used to visualize the different segments of epicardial coronary and intramyocardial arteries. Pulsed-Doppler spectrums were recorded and analyzed. The left anterior descending artery (LAD) and intramyocardial coronary blood flow signals were recorded at baseline and during dipyridamole administration.


RESULTS
Epicardial and intramyocardial coronary arteries could be visualized by coronary flow imaging. The systolic component of coronary flow in the right coronary artery (RCA) was greater than in the LAD. The intramyocardial blood flow was characterized by persistent retrograde blood flow velocity during systole. Vasodilation with dipyridamole produced exaggerated differences in the phasic pattern of coronary blood flow in epicardial and intramyocardial vessels.


CONCLUSIONS
Color Doppler coronary flow imaging provides a noninvasive method to study the coronary blood flow.
Li
Aili
A
Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, People's Hospital, Beijing University, Beijing 100044, China.
Li
Zhi'an
Z
Qu
Zheng
Z
Wang
Xinfang
X
Xu
Bin
B
Yu
Jianbo
J
Tian
Jing
J
D000818:Animals; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004176:Dipyridamole; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine
D004176:Dipyridamole