Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Myocardial Infarction by Percutaneous Embolization Coil Deployment in a Swine Model
Published on: November 4, 2021
Percutaneous cardiac support during myocardial infarction drastically reduces mortality: perspectives from a swine
Maria Giovanna Trivella1, Alessandra Piersigilli2, Fabio Bernini3
1CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa - Italy.
Insights
Temporary percutaneous cardiorespiratory assist device (PCRA) dramatically improved survival in a pig model of acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS), reducing mortality from 100% to 0%. PCRA also enhanced oxygenation in the ischemic heart region.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Medical Devices
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) is a leading cause of in-hospital death.
- Effective interventions for AMI-CS are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a temporary percutaneous cardiorespiratory assist device (PCRA) in a pig model of AMI-CS.
- To assess PCRA's impact on myocardial rescue and early mortality.
Main Methods:
- Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced in open-chest pigs via left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation.
- Animals were divided into control (no PCRA) and treatment (PCRA) groups.
- Regional myocardial oxygenation was monitored using 2D-near infrared spectroscopy (2D-NIRS).
Main Results:
- All control animals died within 120 minutes, whereas PCRA-treated animals survived with stable hemodynamics.
- PCRA reduced life-threatening arrhythmias and maintained aortic pressure.
- 2D-NIRS indicated improved oxygenation in the ischemic area with PCRA, and a smaller residual de-oxygenated area post-reperfusion.
Conclusions:
- PCRA significantly reduced early mortality from 100% to 0% in the AMI-CS pig model.
- PCRA promoted oxygenation of the ischemic myocardium during LAD occlusion.
- Results suggest PCRA as a potential first-line treatment for AMI-CS to improve myocardial rescue and short-term survival.
Background/Aims:
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with cardiogenic shock (CS) remains the leading cause of in-hospital death in acute coronary syndromes. In the AMI-CS pig model we tested the efficacy of temporary percutaneous cardiorespiratory assist device (PCRA) in rescuing the failing heart and reducing early mortality.
Methods:
In open-chest pigs we induced AMI by proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation. Eight animals without PCRA (C group) were compared with 12 animals otherwise treated with PCRA (T group), starting approximately at 60 minutes post-occlusion and lasting 120-180 minutes. In 3 animals of the T group, regional myocardial oxygen content was also imaged by two-dimensional near infrared spectroscopy (2D-NIRS) with and without PCRA, before and after LAD reperfusion.
Results:
All animals without PCRA died despite unrelenting resuscitation maneuvers (120 minutes average survival time). Conversely, animals treated with PCRA showed a reduction in life-threatening arrhythmia and maintenance of aortic pressure, allowing interruption of PCRA in all cases early in the experiments, with sound hemodynamics at the end of the observation period. During LAD occlusion, NIRS showed severe de-oxygenation of the LAD territory that improved with PCRA. After PCRA suspension and LAD reperfusion, the residual de-oxygenated area proved to be smaller than the initial risk area.
Conclusions:
In AMI, PCRA initiated during advanced CS drastically reduced early mortality from 100% to 0% in a 4-5 hour observation period. PCRA promoted oxygenation of the ischemic area during LAD occlusion. Results support the use of PCRA as first line of treatment in AMI-CS, improving myocardial rescue and short-term survival.
