An experimental MRI method may be safer and just as swift as standard X-ray procedures in guiding surgical interventions in the heart. The finding, from a small clinical study by scientists at NIH’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), suggests that MRI might one day offer a radiation-free alternative to more widely used X-rays for visualizing heart-related interventions.
Cardiac catheterization is often used to diagnose and treat certain heart conditions. The procedure involves easing a catheter through blood vessels to specific areas of the heart. To ensure that the catheter is reaching the right location, surgeons usually rely on special X-rays to visualize the tube’s movement and placement. This technique uses ionizing radiation, which could harm tissues, especially if used on children or for lengthy or repeated procedures.
To minimize radiation exposure, the researchers at NHLBI are working to develop rapid, real-time MRI methods, that use radio waves and magnetic fields , in order to visualize and guide cardiac-based interventions like catheterization.
To assess the feasibility of the MRI approach, the scientists conducted a small 16-patient clinical trial to compare X-ray and MRI catheterization. They first used X-rays to guide catheterization from a large vein in the leg to the right side of the heart, then repeated the catheterization twice using real-time MRI and balloon-tipped catheters filled with air or a metallic compound to enhance contrast. The average procedure time for both approaches was similar, about 20 minutes.
