Redistribution of myocardial perfusion during permanent dual chamber pacing in symptomatic non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a quantitative positron emission tomography study.

Dual chamber pacing causes significant symptomatic improvement in many patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The mechanism behind this beneficial response is not fully understood. Positron emission tomography showed a redistribution of myocardial flow during pacing in a patient with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Early septal activation reduced septal fibre strain and blood flow and increased septal perfusion reserve

Effects of permanent dual chamber pacing on myocardial perfusion in symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Angina and the presence of myocardial ischaemia are common in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Dual chamber pacing results in clinical improvement in these patients. This study evaluates the effects of permanent dual chamber pacing on absolute regional myocardial perfusion and perfusion reserve. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: Six patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and severe symptoms of angina received a dual chamber pacemaker. Absolute myocardial regional perfusion and perfusion reserve (dipyridamole 0.56 mg/kg) were measured by dynamic positron emission tomography with 13N-ammonia both during sinus rhythm and 3 months after pacemaker insertion. Results were compared with those from 28 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Pacing resulted in a reduction of anginal complaints and a reduction in intraventricular pressure gradient from 65 (SD 30) mm Hg to 19 (10) mm Hg. During sinus rhythm, baseline perfusion was higher in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy than controls (184 (31) v 106 (26) ml/min/100 g, P < 0.01), and perfusion reserve was lower (1.6 (0.4) v 2.8 (1.0), P < 0.05). During pacing myocardial perfusion decreased to 130 (27) ml/min/100 g (P < 0.05), with variable responses in terms of perfusion reserve. Pacing caused a redistribution of myocardial stress perfusion and perfusion reserve. The coefficient of regional variation of myocardial stress perfusion decreased from 19.7 (7.0)% to 14.6 (3.9)% during pacing (12.9 (3.8)% in controls, P < 0.01). The coefficient of regional variation of perfusion reserve decreased from 16.7 (6.6)% to 11.4 (2.6)% during pacing (9.8 (4.1)% in controls, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pacing caused a decrease of resting left ventricular myocardial blood flow and blood flow during pharmacologically induced coronary vasodilatation. Although global perfusion reserve remained unchanged, myocardial perfusion reserve became more homogeneously distributed

Comparison of 99mTc-sestamibi-18F-fluorodeoxyglucose dual isotope simultaneous acquisition and rest-stress 99mTc-sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography for the assessment of myocardial viability

Dual isotope simultaneous acquisition single photon emission computed tomography (DISA SPECT) offers the advantage of obtaining information on myocardial perfusion using Tc-sestamibi ( Tc-MIBI) and metabolism using F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( F-FDG) in a single study. The prerequisite is that the Tc-MIBI images are not degraded by scattered 511 keV photons or poor count statistics due to the lower efficiency of the extra high energy (EHE) collimator. Therefore, we compared the registered Tc-MIBI uptake and image quality of DISA and single isotope acquisition. Furthermore, we investigated whether DISA yields additional information for the assessment of myocardial viability in comparison with rest-stress Tc-MIBI. Nineteen patients with known coronary artery disease and irreversible perfusion defects on previous rest-stress MIBI test studies were investigated. After oral glucose loading and simultaneous injection of 600 MBq of Tc-MIBI and 185 MBq of F-FDG at rest, DISA was performed using energy windows of 140 (+/-15%), 170 (+/-20%) and 511 keV (+/-15%). Planar 140 keV images were corrected for scatter by subtraction using the 170 keV window. The single and dual isotope Tc-MIBI images were both displayed in a polar map with 128 segments normalized to maximum counts. F-FDG and Tc-MIBI images were visually scored for a perfusion-metabolism mismatch pattern using nine regions per heart. There was an excellent correlation (r =0.93, P<0.0001) between the Tc-MIBI uptake detected in the single and dual isotope acquisition. The average difference between the dual and single isotope Tc-MIBI uptake was -1.2% (not significantly different from zero) and the coefficient of variation of the difference was 8.7%. Of the 79 regions with irreversible perfusion defects on previous rest-stress Tc-MIBI, six regions in five patients showed a perfusion-metabolism mismatch pattern. We conclude that DISA does not affect the quality of the Tc-MIBI images. Furthermore, F-FDG- Tc-MIBI DISA may show viability in a small but significant (7.6%, P<0.0034) number of regions with irreversible perfusion defects on rest-stress Tc-MIBI

In-vivo evaluation of the “hia-vad” : a new German ventricular assist device

Helmholtz Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) are pneumatically driven polyurethane membrane pumps with various volumes. The pumps are placed paracorporeally and connected with commercially available cannulas between the left atrium and aorta (left ventricular assist device) and/or right atrium and pulmonary artery (right ventricular assist device, bi-ventricular assist device). The pumps can be driven with a stand-alone driving system or with a Helmholtz IABP-console interface. Seventeen animal experiments (on calves) with Helmholtz VAD's were performed to evaluate experimental protocols, to optimize surgical techniques, and to improve design and manufacturing techniques. Blood chemistry and cell counts demonstrated that the tested HIA-70 produces low mechanical blood damage. In the course of the animal experiments the Helmholtz VAD's were made totally transparent, whereby they became easy to de-air, efficient, and affordable