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Acoustic radiation force impulse under clinical conditions with single infusion of ultrasound contrast agent evoking arrhythmias in rabbit heart

  • Original Article–Physics & Engineering
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Abstract

Purpose

We previously reported that acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) with concomitant administration of perfluorobutane as an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA)-induced arrhythmias at a mechanical index (MI) of 1.8 or 4.0 in a rabbit model. The present study identified the location of arrhythmias with a MI < 1.8 using a new system that can transmit ARFI with B-mode imaging.

Methods

Under general anesthesia, six male Japanese white rabbits were placed in a supine position. Using this system, we targeted ARFI to the exact site of the heart. ARFI exposure with MI 0.9–1.2 was performed to the right or left ventricle of the heart 2 min after UCA injection.

Results

ARFI with a MI lower than previously reported to rabbit heart evoked extrasystolic waves with single UCA infusion. Arrhythmias were not observed using ARFI without UCA. Extrasystolic waves were observed significantly more frequently in the right ventricle group than in the left ventricle group, with arrhythmias showing reversed shapes. No fatal arrhythmias were observed.

Conclusion

ARFI applied to simulate clinical conditions in rabbit heart evoked extrasystolic waves with single UCA infusion. The right ventricle group was significantly more sensitive to ARFI exposure, resulting in arrhythmias, than the left ventricle group. The shapes of PVCs that occurred in the right ventricle group and the left ventricle group were reversed. Ultrasound practitioners who use ARFI should be aware of this adverse reaction, even if the MI is below the previously determined value of 1.9.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research B (23300194) and C (26350544) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and a grant from the Research and Development Committee Program of the Japan Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine. This work was also supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid of The Foundation for Development of the Community. This work was also supported in part by a project of the Ultrasound Equipment and Safety Committee of the Japanese Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine. The role of the sponsors was conduct of the experiments and preparation of the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterological, General and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Kazuma Rifu & Hideki Sasanuma

  2. Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Noriya Takayama & Nobuyuki Taniguchi

  3. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Health and Medical Research Institute, 1-2-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8564, Japan

    Naotaka Nitta

  4. Department of Cardiology, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Yukiyo Ogata

  5. Medical Ultrasound Research Center, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara-miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan

    Iwaki Akiyama

Authors
  1. Kazuma Rifu
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  2. Hideki Sasanuma
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  3. Noriya Takayama
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  4. Naotaka Nitta
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  6. Iwaki Akiyama
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  7. Nobuyuki Taniguchi
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Correspondence to Kazuma Rifu.

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Rifu, K., Sasanuma, H., Takayama, N. et al. Acoustic radiation force impulse under clinical conditions with single infusion of ultrasound contrast agent evoking arrhythmias in rabbit heart. J Med Ultrasonics 48, 137–144 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-021-01085-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-021-01085-3

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