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In Situ Kidney Insonation With Microbubble Contrast Agents Does Not Cause Renal Tissue Damage in a Porcine Model
Author(s) -
Jiménez Carlos,
de Gracia Raquel,
Aguilera Alfredo,
Alonso Sergio,
Cirugeda Antonio,
Benito Javier,
Regojo Rita María,
Aguilar Río,
Warlters Andrea,
Gómez Rosa,
Largo Carlota,
Selgas Rafael
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2008.27.11.1607
Subject(s) - medicine , kidney , perfusion , mechanical index , contrast enhanced ultrasound , ultrasound , microcirculation , pathology , microbubbles , renal circulation , radiology , renal blood flow
Objective. Knowledge and quantification of the microcirculation are very important for estimating the status of an organ. Real‐time contrast‐enhanced sonography assesses microvascular tissue perfusion. This technique has been proposed as innocuous; however, data from experimental animals (rats) have shown renal interstitial microhemorrhage after the procedure. Therefore, we developed a porcine model to explore potential renal damage that in situ exposure might cause. Methods. Kidneys from 8 anesthetized pigs were surgically exposed. An ultrasound contrast agent (sulfur hexafluoride) was infused through the femoral vein in a continuous perfusion. Destructive ultrasonic flashes were applied with a high mechanical index over only 1 kidney (the contralateral kidney was used as a control). Blinded histologic and laboratory analyses were performed to reveal any lesions. Results. Histologic analysis of the kidney samples showed no evidence of renal damage. Biochemical parameters that could represent renal tissue damage and hemoglobin levels did not change after the microbubble‐ultrasound interaction. Conclusions. The ultrasound contrast agent‐ultrasound interaction in anesthetized pig kidneys under the output level for the imaging visualization and microbubble destruction used did not cause tissue damage. Our results suggest that this procedure could be used in humans for regular analysis of the kidney microcirculation with minimal risk of tissue damage.