Infrared Thermographic Imaging of Chest Wall Perfusion in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
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Published on: December 8, 2010
Stefan Rasche1, Christian Kleiner2, Jens Müller3
1Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
Insights
Infrared thermography (IRT) effectively detects reduced chest wall perfusion after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, particularly following internal mammary artery (IMA) harvesting. This non-invasive technique monitors temperature changes to assess surgical impact.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Medical Imaging
- Physiology
Background:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a primary treatment for advanced coronary artery disease.
- Internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts improve long-term survival but can impair chest wall perfusion, increasing infection risk.
- Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive diagnostic tool with broad medical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of infrared thermography (IRT) in assessing chest wall perfusion changes post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
- To quantify skin surface temperature variations following CABG surgery, specifically after internal mammary artery (IMA) harvesting.
Main Methods:
- Infrared thermography (IRT) was employed to measure skin surface temperature in 42 patients undergoing CABG.
- Temperature measurements were recorded preoperatively, and at 2 hours, 24 hours, and 6 days after surgery.
- Analysis focused on changes in chest wall temperature, particularly on the left side after IMA harvesting.
Main Results:
- A significant, independent drop in chest wall surface temperature was observed 2 hours post-CABG.
- A further temperature reduction was noted on the left chest wall after IMA harvesting.
- Skin surface temperature normalized within 24 hours and remained stable at 6 days post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- Infrared thermography (IRT) is sensitive enough to detect subtle reductions in chest wall perfusion after CABG.
- The findings support the use of IRT for monitoring the physiological impact of IMA harvesting in CABG patients.
- IRT offers a non-invasive method to assess perfusion changes critical for managing surgical site complications.
Abstract:
Coronary artery disease represents a leading cause of death worldwide, to which the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is the main method of treatment in advanced multiple vessel disease. The use of the internal mammary artery (IMA) as a graft insures an improved long-term survival, but impairment of chest wall perfusion often leads to surgical site infection and increased morbidity and mortality. Infrared thermography (IRT) has established itself in the past decades as a non-invasive diagnostic technique. The applications vary from veterinary to human medicine and from head to toe. In this study we used IRT in 42 patients receiving CABG to determine the changes in skin surface temperature preoperatively, two hours, 24 h and 6 days after surgery. The results showed a significant and independent drop of surface temperature 2 h after surgery on the whole surface of the chest wall, as well as a further reduction on the left side after harvesting the IMA. The temperature returned to normal after 24 h and remained so after 6 days. The study has shown that IRT is sufficiently sensitive to demonstrate the known, subtle reduction in chest wall perfusion associated with IMA harvesting.
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