Myocardial perfusion monitoring during coronary artery bypass using an electrocardiogram-triggered laser Doppler technique

Electrocardiogram (ECG)-triggered laser Doppler perfusion monitoring (LDPM) was used to assess myocardial perfusion, with minimum myocardial tissue motion influence, during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Thirteen subjects were investigated at six phases: pre- and post-CABG; post aorta cross-clamping; pre and post left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft declamping, and post aorta declamping. The perfusion signal was calculated in late systole and late diastole, with expected minimum tissue motion, and compared with arrested heart measurements. Patient conditions or artifacts caused by surgical activity made it impossible to perform and analyse data in all six phases for some patients. No significant (n = 5) difference between perfusion signals pre- and post-CABG was found. Diastolic perfusion signal levels were significantly (p < 0.02) lower compared with systolic levels. After aorta cross-clamping, the signal level was almost zero. A distinct perfusion signal increase after LIMA and aorta declamping, compared with pre-LIMA declamping, was found in ten cases out of 13. A significantly (p < 0.04) lower perfusion signal in the arrested heart compared with in the beating heart was registered. Influence from mechanical ventilation was observed in 14 measurements out of 17. In conclusion, ECG-triggered LDPM can be used to assess myocardial perfusion during CABG. Perfusion signals were lower in the arrested heart compared with in the beating heart and in late diastole compared with late systole. No significant difference between pre- and post-CABG was found.