Research article
Can pulsed ultrasound increase tissue damage during ischemia? A study of the effects of ultrasound on infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium in anesthetized pigs
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* Corresponding author: Bjarne M Härdig bjarne.madsen-hardig@med.lu.se
1 Department of Cardiology, Lund University, SE-22185 Lund, Sweden
2 Department of Pathology, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
3 Departement of Anaesthesiology, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
4 Electrical Measurements, Lund Institute of Technology, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 2005, 5:8 doi:10.1186/1471-2261-5-8
Published: 15 April 2005Abstract
Background
The same mechanisms by which ultrasound enhances thrombolysis are described in connection with non-beneficial effects of ultrasound. The present safety study was therefore designed to explore effects of beneficial ultrasound characteristics on the infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium.
Methods
In an open chest porcine model (n = 17), myocardial infarction was induced by ligating a coronary diagonal branch. Pulsed ultrasound of frequency 1 MHz and intensity 0.1 W/cm2 (ISATA) was applied during one hour to both infarcted and non-infarcted myocardial tissue. These ultrasound characteristics are similar to those used in studies of ultrasound enhanced thrombolysis. Using blinded assessment technique, myocardial damage was rated according to histopathological criteria.
Results
Infarcted myocardium exhibited a significant increase in damage score compared to non-infarcted myocardium: 6.2 ± 2.0 vs. 4.3 ± 1.5 (mean ± standard deviation), (p = 0.004). In the infarcted myocardium, ultrasound exposure yielded a further significant increase of damage scores: 8.1 ± 1.7 vs. 6.2 ± 2.0 (p = 0.027).
Conclusion
Our results suggest an instantaneous additive effect on the ischemic damage in myocardial tissue when exposed to ultrasound of stated characteristics. The ultimate damage degree remains to be clarified.