Percutaneous dye image cardioscopy for detection of endocardial lesions

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Pathology

Background:

• Endocardial lesions can stem from inflammation or myocardial ischemia, leading to thrombosis and embolism.
• Direct visualization of endocardial damage is crucial for understanding heart disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess a novel dye image cardioscopy method using Evans blue for visualizing endocardial damage.
• To evaluate the feasibility of this technique in patients with various heart conditions.

Main Methods:

• A novel cardioscopy technique involving Evans blue dye injection into the left ventricle was employed.
• The dye was administered before and after endomyocardial biopsy in patients with heart disease.

Main Results:

• Before biopsy, 63% of angina pectoris patients showed endocardial surface staining, indicating pre-existing damage.
• Following endomyocardial biopsy, all biopsied sites exhibited blue staining, confirming iatrogenic damage.

Conclusions:

• The endocardium is susceptible to damage in ischemic heart disease, even when appearing intact.
• Endomyocardial biopsy is demonstrated to cause substantial endocardial injury.