Establishment of a canine model of fat embolism induced no/slow flow of coronary artery

AIM: To establish a canine model of fat embolism-induced no/slow flow of coronary artery for the study of the involvement of fat embolism in the pathogenesis of interventional slow/no flow. METHODS: Twenty hybrid dogs were subjected to left ventricular imaging and coronary angiography as well as hemodynamic parameter measurement at baseline. Intracoronary infusion of fat emboli was accomplished to produce slow/no flow of the dominant coronary artery, which was confirmed by coronary angiography. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and vital signs were recorded throughout the procedures. RESULTS: Seventeen dogs survived the procedure and 15 met the standard of coronary angiography for slow/no flow in animal models, i.e., TIMI flow grade ≤II and corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC)≥36.2. Overall success rate was 75%. After the establishment of slow/no flow model, the heart rate increased rapidly, blood pressure decreased and left ventricular systolic pressure significantly decreased (P<0.05). During the process, ECG showed similar evolvement as that of acute myocardial injury and reperfusion. CONCLUSION: Intracoronary injection of ultraselected fat is a good way to produce canine models of slow/no flow during percutaneous coronary intervention.