Reduction of postmortem angiography-induced tissue edema by using polyethylene glycol as a contrast agent dissolver.
Postmortem investigation is increasingly supported by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging, in which postmortem minimal invasive angiography has become important. The newly introduced approach using an aqueous contrast agent solution provided excellent vessel visualization but was suspected to possibly cause tissue edema artifacts in histological investigations. The aim of this study was to investigate on a porcine heart model whether it is possible to influence the contrast agent distribution within the soft tissue by changing its viscosity by dissolving the contrast agent in polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a matrix medium. High-resolution CT scans after injection showed that viscosities above c. 15 mPa s (65% PEG) prevented a contrast agent distribution within the capillary bed of the left ventricular myocardium. Thereby, the precondition of edema artifacts could be reduced. Its minimal invasive application on human corpses needs to be further adapted as the flow resistance is expected to differ between different tissues.
Jackowski
Christian
C
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 20, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. christian.jackowski@irm.unibe.ch
Bolliger
Stephan
S
Aghayev
Emin
E
Christe
Andreas
A
Kilchoer
Thomas
T
Aebi
Beat
B
Périnat
Therese
T
Dirnhofer
Richard
R
Thali
Michael J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D023421:Models, Animal; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine; D014783:Viscosity
D003287:Contrast Media; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols