Postmortem fluorescence angiography of the explanted human heart

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Forensic Pathology
• Cardiovascular Science

Background:

• Postmortem examination of the heart often relies on traditional methods.
• There is a need for advanced techniques to assess cardiac structures and pathology after death.
• Indocyanine green (ICG) offers fluorescent properties suitable for imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of using indocyanine green (ICG) as a fluorescent agent for postmortem cardiac angiography.
• To establish baseline findings of healthy hearts using ICG fluorescence angiography.
• To lay the groundwork for future research on ICG angiography in cardiac pathology.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 4 deceased individuals without prior heart disease history.
• Indocyanine green (ICG) was administered for fluorescence angiography of the heart.
• Analysis focused on identifying basic patterns in healthy hearts via ICG fluorescence.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the technical feasibility of ICG fluorescence angiography in postmortem cardiac specimens.
• Presented characteristic fluorescence patterns associated with normal cardiac anatomy.
• Confirmed that the method does not interfere with macroscopic or histologic examination.

Conclusions:

• Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography is a viable technique for postmortem cardiac imaging.
• The method provides a basis for future studies investigating cardiac pathology.
• ICG angiography can be integrated into existing diagnostic workflows.