We gratefully acknowledge the Fondation C&#339;ur Recherche and ADETEC for their financial support. We would also like to express our gratitude to Marie Lannelongue&#39;s lab team for their contributions to this project: Antoine Agathon, Laure Aubr&#232;ge, Aim&#233;e Alm&#233;ras, Catarina Bastos Dias, Antoine Gruss&#233;, Anselme Limousin, and Slimane Idir.

All pigs received humane care in compliance with the &#39;Principles of Laboratory Animal Care&#39; formulated by the National Society for Medical Research and the &#39;Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals&#39; prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources and published by the National Institutes of Health (Eighth Edition, 12910. National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2011). This study design was approved by the French Ministry of Research for the use of animals for scientific purposes (protoc...

Coronary Artery Assessment During Ex-Situ Heart Perfusion

<ol>
	<li>Khush, K. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+International+Thoracic+Organ+Transplant+Registry+of+the+International+Society+for+Heart+and+Lung+Transplantation:+37th+adult+heart+transplantation+report-2020;+focus+on+deceased+donor+characteristics.">The International Thoracic Organ Transplant Registry of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation: 37th adult heart transplantation report-2020; focus on deceased donor characteristics.</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 39 (10), 1003-1015 (2020).</li><li>Khush, K. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+International+Thoracic+Organ+Transplant+Registry+of+the+International+Society+for+Heart+and+Lung+Transplantation:+Thirty-fifth+Adult+Heart+Transplantation+Report-2018;+Focus+Theme:+Multiorgan+Transplantation.">The International Thoracic Organ Transplant Registry of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation: Thirty-fifth Adult Heart Transplantation Report-2018; Focus Theme: Multiorgan Transplantation.</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 37 (10), 1155-1168 (2018).</li><li>Dorent, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessment+of+potential+heart+donors:+A+statement+from+the+French+heart+transplant+community.">Assessment of potential heart donors: A statement from the French heart transplant community.</a> Arch Cardiovasc Dis. 111 (2), 126-139 (2018).</li><li>Ivanes, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Performing+diagnostic+coronary+angiography+to+evaluate+high-risk+cardiac+donors:+A+French+nationwide+cohort+study.">Performing diagnostic coronary angiography to evaluate high-risk cardiac donors: A French nationwide cohort study.</a> Int J Cardiol. 277, 71-78 (2019).</li><li>Hassanein, W. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Continuous+perfusion+of+donor+hearts+in+the+beating+state+extends+preservation+time+and+improves+recovery+of+function.">Continuous perfusion of donor hearts in the beating state extends preservation time and improves recovery of function.</a> J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 116 (5), 821-830 (1998).</li><li>Ardehali, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=et+al.Ex-vivo+perfusion+of+donor+hearts+for+human+heart+transplantation+(PROCEED+II):+a+prospective,+open-label,+multicentre,+randomised+non-inferiority+trial.">et al.Ex-vivo perfusion of donor hearts for human heart transplantation (PROCEED II): a prospective, open-label, multicentre, randomised non-inferiority trial.</a> Lancet. 385 (9987), 2577-2584 (2015).</li><li>McCurry, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=294:+Prospective+Multi-Center+Safety+and+Effectiveness+Evaluation+of+the+Organ+Care+System+Device+for+Cardiac+Use+(PROCEED).">294: Prospective Multi-Center Safety and Effectiveness Evaluation of the Organ Care System Device for Cardiac Use (PROCEED).</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 27 (2), S166 (2008).</li><li>Langmuur, S. J. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Normothermic+ex-situ+heart+perfusion+with+the+organ+care+system+for+cardiac+transplantation:+A+Meta-analysis.">Normothermic ex-situ heart perfusion with the organ care system for cardiac transplantation: A Meta-analysis.</a> Transplantation. 106 (9), 1745-1753 (2022).</li><li>Anthony, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ex+vivo+coronary+angiographic+evaluation+of+a+beating+donor+heart.">Ex vivo coronary angiographic evaluation of a beating donor heart.</a> Circulation. 130 (25), e341-e343 (2014).</li><li>Nadel, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Successful+transplantation+of+high-risk+cardiac+allografts+from+DCD+donors+following+ex+vivo+coronary+angiography.">Successful transplantation of high-risk cardiac allografts from DCD donors following ex vivo coronary angiography.</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 39 (12), 1496-1499 (2020).</li><li>Dang Van, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=et+al.Ex+vivo+perfusion+of+the+donor+heart:+Preliminary+experience+in+high-risk+transplantations.">et al.Ex vivo perfusion of the donor heart: Preliminary experience in high-risk transplantations.</a> Arch Cardiovasc Dis. 114 (11), 715-726 (2021).</li><li>Mendirichaga, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ex+vivo+coronary+angiography+and+intravascular+ultrasound+of+a+donor+heart+in+the+organ+care+system.">Ex vivo coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound of a donor heart in the organ care system.</a> JSCAI. 1 (4), 100342 (2022).</li><li>Schibilsky, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coronary+angiography+and+intravascular+ultrasound+in+an+ex-vivo+perfused+heart+using+the+Organ+Care+System+(OCS).">Coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound in an ex-vivo perfused heart using the Organ Care System (OCS).</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 38 (4), 271 (2019).</li><li>Davis, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coronary+angiography+of+older+donor+hearts+during+evaluation+for+transplantation.">Coronary angiography of older donor hearts during evaluation for transplantation.</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 33 (4), S161-S162 (2014).</li><li>Grauhan, O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coronary+atherosclerosis+of+the+donor+heart+-+impact+on+early+graft+failure.">Coronary atherosclerosis of the donor heart - impact on early graft failure.</a> Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 32 (4), 634-638 (2007).</li><li>Abid, Q., Parry, G., Forty, J., Dark, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Concurrent+coronary+grafting+of+the+donor+heart+with+left+internal+mammary+artery:+10-year+experience.">Concurrent coronary grafting of the donor heart with left internal mammary artery: 10-year experience.</a> J Heart Lung Transplant. 21 (7), 812-814 (2002).</li><li>Pinto, C. S., Prieto, D., Antunes, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coronary+artery+bypass+graft+surgery+during+heart+transplantation.">Coronary artery bypass graft surgery during heart transplantation.</a> Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 16 (2), 224-225 (2013).</li><li>Plyer, A., Colin, E., Orlik, X., Akamkam, A., Guihaire, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+the+vasculature+of+a+beating+heart+by+dynamic+speckle:+the+challenge+of+a+quasiperiodic+motion.">Imaging the vasculature of a beating heart by dynamic speckle: the challenge of a quasiperiodic motion.</a> J Biomed Opt. 28 (04), 046007 (2023).</li><li>Dang Van, S., Brunet, D., Akamkam, A., Decante, B., Guihaire, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+assessment+of+the+donor+heart+during+ex+situ+perfusion:+Insights+from+pressure-volume+loops+and+surface+echocardiography.">Functional assessment of the donor heart during ex situ perfusion: Insights from pressure-volume loops and surface echocardiography.</a> J Vis Exp. (188), e63945 (2022).</li></ol>

Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

This study describes, for the first time, a protocol for coronary angiography on an isolated beating heart without compromising myocardial metabolic viability during Normothermic Ex-situ Heart Perfusion (NESP). The views were reproducible, allowing for a comprehensive anatomical analysis of the coronary network. The required contrast agent volume was approximately 50 mL and rarely exceeded 100 mL. In comparison, the average volume used for in vivo coronary angiography is twice as much, ranging between 1...

Heart transplantation is the gold standard therapy for advanced heart failure1,2. However, this treatment is limited by the current organ shortage, leading to increased allocation of extended criteria donors (ECD), who are more frequently exposed to coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary angiography is recommended in France to prevent the risk of primary graft failure related to CAD if the donor&#39;s age is greater than 55 years or 45 years with two cardiovascular risk factors3. Even though coronary angiography increases the chances of graft acceptance by 9%, this procedure is performed in only 33% of cases in France4. Hearts from ECD at risk for CAD are therefore either declined for transplant or procured without screening for coronary artery disease.
The Organ Care System (OCS) is the only clinically available machine perfusion (MP) for Normothermic Ex-situ heart perfusion (NESP). This technology allows for longer preservation before transplantation by perfusing the donor heart with warm, oxygenated blood. Continuous metabolic assessment is performed during NESP by monitoring the lactate profile5. The efficacy and safety of NESP are now demonstrated by several studies, including a recent meta-analysis6,7,8. Performing coronary angiography during NESP would be of major interest to increase the probability of transplanting hearts from ECDs at risk for CAD.
Previously published experiences of ex-situ coronary angiography9,10,11 suggest that conventional views are not suitable due to the inverted position of the heart in the perfusion module. In addition, OCS components visible with X-rays may impair imaging findings. Lastly, the toxicity of contrast agents on the myocardium during isolated heart perfusion remains questionable. The present report aims to provide a safe and reproducible approach to performing coronary angiography during NESP.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3T Heater Cooler System</td>
			<td>Liva Nova, Ch&#226;tillon, France</td>
			<td>IM-00727 A</td>
			<td>Extracorporeal Heater Cooler device</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4-0 polypropylene suture</td>
			<td>Peters, bobigny, France&#160;</td>
			<td>20S15B</td>
			<td>sutures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5-0 polypropylene suture</td>
			<td>Peters, bobigny, France&#160;</td>
			<td>20S10B</td>
			<td>sutures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adenosine</td>
			<td>Efisciens BV, Rotterdam, Netherlands&#160;</td>
			<td>9088309</td>
			<td>Drugs for the ex-vivo perfusion</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adrenaline</td>
			<td>Aguettant, Lyon, France&#160;</td>
			<td>600040</td>
			<td>Drugs for the ex-vivo perfusion</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ADW software</td>
			<td>General Electric Healthcare, Chicago, Ill, USA</td>
			<td>ADW_IGS730/ M5173653</td>
			<td>Software used for the coronary angiography visualization</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Atracurium</td>
			<td>Pfizer Holding France, Paris, France&#160;</td>
			<td>582547</td>
			<td>Drugs for the induction of the anesthesia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CG4 +</td>
			<td>Abbott, Chicago, Ill, USA</td>
			<td>03P85-25</td>
			<td>Lactates and blood gas cartridge for the blood analyzer machine&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CG8 +</td>
			<td>Abbott, Chicago, Ill, USA</td>
			<td>03P88-25</td>
			<td>Ionogram cartridge for the blood analyzer machine&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DeltaStream&#160;</td>
			<td>Fresenius Medical Care, L&#8217;Arbresle, France</td>
			<td>MEH2C4024</td>
			<td>Extracorporeal blood pump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Discovery IGS 7</td>
			<td>General Electric Healthcare, Chicago, Ill, USA</td>
			<td>Discovery IGS7.3 / M5173652</td>
			<td>Angiography system for hybrid operating room&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DLP Aortic Root Cannula</td>
			<td>Medtronic Inc. Minneapolis, Minneapolis, USA</td>
			<td>ref. 11012, 12.5 inch</td>
			<td>Aortic Root Cannula</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>External pacemaker</td>
			<td>Medtronic Inc. Minneapolis, Minneapolis, USA</td>
			<td>5392</td>
			<td>Pacemaker device</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fresinus Agilia injectomat</td>
			<td>Fresenius vial , Brezins, France</td>
			<td>018010/20640320</td>
			<td>Syringe driver&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose 5%</td>
			<td>B.Braun Melsungen AG, Melsungen, Germany</td>
			<td>3400891780017</td>
			<td>Drugs for the priming solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Haemonetics leukocyte filter</td>
			<td>Haemonetics, Boston, Massachusetts, USA</td>
			<td>RS1VAE</td>
			<td>Leukocyte Filter&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heart Perfusion Set, Organ Care System</td>
			<td>Transmedics, Andover, MA, USA</td>
			<td>Ref#1200</td>
			<td>Normothermic ex-vivo heart perfusion device, including, the perfusion module, pulmonary artery and aortic cannula</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Intellivue MX550</td>
			<td>Philips Healthcare, Suresnes, France</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Permanent monitoring system&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Iomeron 350</td>
			<td>Bracco imaging, Massy, France</td>
			<td>3400933794606.00</td>
			<td>Iomeprol contrast agent product</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>istat 1</td>
			<td>Abbott, Chicago, Ill, USA</td>
			<td>714336-03O</td>
			<td>Blood Analyzer machine&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Judkins Right 3.5</td>
			<td>Boston Scientific,&#160; Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA</td>
			<td>H74934358202&#160;</td>
			<td>Coronary angiography catheterization probe&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium</td>
			<td>Aguettant, Lyon, France&#160;</td>
			<td>564 780-6</td>
			<td>Drugs for the cardioplegia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium Sulfate</td>
			<td>Aguettant, Lyon, France&#160;</td>
			<td>600111</td>
			<td>Drugs for the cardioplegia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mannitol 20%</td>
			<td>Macopharma, Mouvoux, France</td>
			<td>3400891694567.00</td>
			<td>Drugs for the cardioplegia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methylprednisolone&#160;</td>
			<td>Mylan S.A.S, Saint Priest, France&#160;</td>
			<td>400005623</td>
			<td>Drugs for the priming solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MWI software&#160;</td>
			<td>General Electric Healthcare, Chicago, Ill, USA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>software used for the Ultrasound echocardiographic machine</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Orotracheal probe</td>
			<td>Smiths medical ASD, Inc., Minneapolis, Minneapolis, USA</td>
			<td>100/199/070</td>
			<td>probe for the intubation during anesthesia&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium chloride 10%&#160;</td>
			<td>B.Braun Melsungen AG, Melsungen, Germany</td>
			<td>3400892691527.00</td>
			<td>Drugs for the cardioplegia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Propofol</td>
			<td>Zoetis France, Malakoff, France&#160;</td>
			<td>8083511</td>
			<td>Drugs for the induction of the anesthesia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Quadrox-I small Adult Oxygenator</td>
			<td>Getinge, G&#246;teborg, Sweden</td>
			<td>BE-HMO 50000</td>
			<td>Extracorporeal blood oxygenator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ringer solution</td>
			<td>B.Braun Melsungen AG, Melsungen, Germany</td>
			<td>DKE2323</td>
			<td>Drugs for the cardioplegia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Bicarbonate</td>
			<td>Laboratoire Renaudin, itxassou, France</td>
			<td>3701447</td>
			<td>Drugs for the cardioplegia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium chloride</td>
			<td>Aguettant, Lyon, France&#160;</td>
			<td>606726</td>
			<td>Drugs for the priming solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Swan Ganz Catheter</td>
			<td>Merit Medical, south jordan, utah, USA&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td>5041856</td>
			<td>Right pressure and cardiac output probe&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tiletamine&#160;</td>
			<td>Virbac France, Carros, France&#160;</td>
			<td>3597132126021.00</td>
			<td>Drugs for the induction of the anesthesia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Two staged Venous Cannula&#160;</td>
			<td>Medtronic Inc. Minneapolis, Minneapolis, USA</td>
			<td>91240, 32 french</td>
			<td>Venous Cannula</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vivid E95 ultraSound Machine</td>
			<td>General Electric Healthcare, Chicago, Ill, USA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>Ultrasound echocardiographic machine</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Xyloca&#239;ne 2%</td>
			<td>Aspen, Reuil-malmaison, France&#160;</td>
			<td>600550</td>
			<td>Drugs for the cardioplegia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zolazepam</td>
			<td>Cardinal Health LLC, Waukegan, Illinois, USA</td>
			<td>31050522</td>
			<td>EKG detection electrodes&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zolazepam</td>
			<td>Virbac France, Carros, France&#160;</td>
			<td>3597132126021.00</td>
			<td>Drugs for the induction of the anesthesia</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

coronary angiography during ex-situ heart perfusion in a porcine model

Heart transplantation is the gold standard treatment for advanced heart failure. The procurement of extended criteria donors (ECD) increases due to the current organ shortage. Coronary angiography is recommended in ECD at risk for coronary artery disease but is not systematically performed. These hearts are, therefore, either declined for transplant or procured without screening for coronary artery disease. Coronary angiography during normothermic ex-situ heart perfusion (NESP) could be an interesting approach to enhance the rate of ECD procurement and to reduce the risk of primary graft failure in the absence of coronary angiography in ECD. The present protocol aims to provide material details along with optimal imaging views for coronary angiography during NESP. Reproducible angiographic views were observed, including one dedicated to the right coronary artery, two for the left anterior descending artery, two for the circumflex artery, and a spider view. Continuous lactate extraction was observed in all procedures with a final median concentration of 1.10 mmol/L (0.61-1.75 mmol/L) two hours after coronary angiography, consistent with myocardial viability. The median contrast agent volume used for ex-situ imaging of the isolated perfused heart was 48 mL (38-108 mL). This protocol was reproducible for coronary artery imaging and did not impair myocardial viability during NESP.

Author Spotlight: Innovative Technique for Coronary Angiography in Marginal Donors

Coronary Angiography During Ex-Situ Heart Perfusion in a Porcine Model

Screening for coronary artery disease is recommended before heart procurement in marginal donors, but is often lacking. Performing a coronary angiographic ex-situ heart perfusion could be an alternative. This video provides a detailed description of this method.Nonconventional views are needed for coronary imaging since the heart is inverted in the perfusion module. Second, the components of the module can create artifacts for inadequate imaging. And last, the toxicity of contrast agent remains questionable since it's not eliminated from the perfusion module.Performing coronary angiography during ex-situ heart perfusion is easily reproducible and can extrude stenosis of the main coronary vessels. Coronary angiography on an insulated perfused heart is not a common procedure for an interventional cardiologist. Providing a detailed protocol of a reproducible views can help to reduce exposure to contrast agent, which can be harmful.A better assessment of coronary artery disease will increase the allocation of marginal grafts and could therefore reduce the organ shortage.

The outlined protocol was designed for easy reproducibility in clinical practice. Minimal modifications were made to the available module for Normothermic Ex-situ Heart Perfusion (NESP). The only adjustments were made to connect the module to an extracorporeal life support pump, an oxygenator, and a heater-cooler unit to replace the machine perfusion (MP).
Two test procedures were initially conducted to assess the coronary angiography views used in this protocol. Six coronary angiogra...

Screening for coronary artery disease could increase the procurement of donor hearts with extended criteria. A protocol for performing reproducible coronary angiography during ex-situ heart perfusion is described herein in a porcine model.

Heart transplantation is the gold standard treatment for advanced heart failure. The procurement of extended criteria donors (ECD) increases due to the ...

coronary-angiography-during-ex-situ-heart-perfusion-in-a-porcine-model

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

Normothermic Ex Situ Porcine Heart Perfusion and Coronary Angiography for Artery Assessment

To begin, use a scalpel to cut open the skin along the midline of an anesthetized pig. Open the subcutaneous tissue with a monopolar cautery. Then use a sternal saw to open the sternum.Dissect and open the thymus. With a pair of Metzenbaum scissors, expose the pericardium. Use 4-0 polypropylene sutures to perform purse string sutures on the right atrium and aortic root.Cannulate the right atrium with a 32 French two-stage venous cannula. Now, connect a previously heparinized sterilized bag to the right atrium cannula. Collect 1, 500 milliliters of blood.Clamp the aorta, then infuse 1000 milliliters of cold cardioplegia solution. Next, remove the aortic and venous cannulas. Section the left azygos vein, the two vena cavi, the distal ascending aorta, the pulmonary artery trunk, and the four pulmonary veins, to excise the heart.Place the heart in cold saline solution. Check the aortic valve to confirm normal coaptation. Place four pledgeted sutures around the distal section of the ascending aorta.Then, insert the appropriate aortic cannula and fix it with a hose clamp. Next, insert a 30 French pulmonary artery cannula. Secure it with a 4-0 purse string suture.Finally, place an intracardiac sump through the mitral orifice to vent the left ventricle. Elevate a perfusion machine by 25 centimeters with a platform. Rotate it 90 degrees to the left.Prime the perfusion machine with 500 milliliters of priming solution. Then, add 1, 500 milliliters of the collected porcine blood. Oxygenate the blood with a membrane oxygenator.Then, warm the blood to 34 degrees Celsius with a heater cooler. Collect an initial blood sample for blood gas analysis, ionogram and lactate level. Reduce the pump flow of the perfusion machine to 1000 milliliters per minute.Then remove the shunt between the aortic and venous lines. Now de-air the aorta. Connect the aortic cannula to the aortic line.Massage the heart gently until it is warmed. Place the heart for optimal normothermic XE to profusion. Use an external pacemaker to pace the heart at 80 beats per minute.Slowly increase the pump flow to an aortic pressure of 65 milliliters of mercury. Close the inferior vena cava with a 4-0 polypropylene running suture. Purge and connect the pulmonary artery cannula to the venous line to continuously assess coronary flow.Next, flush the five French introducer and the five French Judkins right 3.5 coronary angiography catheter with serum. Insert a five French introducer through the valved orifice of the machine. Advance the guide wire into the coronary angiography catheter up to the distal orifice.Then, perform a coronary angiography. Catheterize the right coronary artery using the given views. Then, capture the images of the right coronary artery, proximal right coronary artery and distal right coronary artery networks.Similarly, catheterize the left coronary artery and capture the images of the left anterior descending artery, spider view, and marginal coronary artery networks.

170 Views.  Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint Joseph.  Screening for coronary artery disease could increase the procurement of donor hearts with extended criteria. A protocol for performing reproducible coronary angiography during ex-situ heart perfusion is described herein in a porcine model.

Coronary Artery Assessment During Ex-Situ Heart Perfusion

Summary