title: Heterogeneity of myocardial perfusion in distal coronary embolism with different particle sizes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We hypothesized that altered myocardial perfusion distribution patterns could be seen with coronary distal emboli of different particle sizes using myocardial contrast echocardiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 16 open-chest anesthetized dogs, microsphere suspensions of 9 or 500 microm in diameter were injected into the left anterior descending coronary artery until the mean left anterior descending coronary artery flow rate was reduced to less than 30% of baseline flow. During baseline conditions and after maximal embolization, real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed by intravenous infusion of an echocontrast agent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In animals infused with 9-microm microspheres, a transmural perfusion defect was seen at the time of maximal embolization. In contrast, in animals infused with 500-microm microspheres, a subendocardial perfusion defect was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The particle size of coronary distal emboli affects myocardial perfusion distribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan. ma@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akasaka
authors.forename: Katsukuni
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Neishi
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaji
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021721:Balloon Occlusion / Q000379:methods*; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity