Effect of Peripheral Artery Sympathetic Denervation on Muscle Microperfusion and Macroperfusion in an Animal Peripheral Artery Disease Model Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Doppler Flow Measurement

Abstract

PurposeTo determine the effects of catheter-based peripheral sympathetic denervation (CPSD) on peripheral artery sympathetic tone and peripheral microperfusion (PMP). Materials and MethodsThe effects of bilateral CPSD in common iliac arteries on PMP of the biceps femoris were determined in pigs using contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and mean transit time (mTT) and wash-in rate (WiR) were calculated during steady-state infusion of INN-sulfur-hexafluoride. Measurements were performed bilaterally at rest and during infusion of adenosine 70 μg/kg/min after unilateral moderate left external iliac artery stenosis. ResultsBefore CPSD, PMP decreased significantly (P < .05) under adenosine stress compared with resting conditions, with right mTT of 7.5 seconds ± 3.6 versus 16.9 seconds ± 11.9 and WiR of 63.1 arbitrary units (AU) ± 49.0 versus 25.0 AU ± 17.5 and left mTT of 29.2 seconds ± 18.0 versus 56.3 seconds ± 38.7 and WiR of 13.6 AU ± 8.4 versus 6.0 AU ± 4.1. After CPSD, PMP did not differ significantly (P > .05) between conditions of adenosine stress and rest, with right mTT of 19.9 seconds ± 24.7 versus 23.2 seconds ± 21.0 and WiR of 16.2 AU ± 25.0 versus 20.5 AU ± 19.7 and left mTT of 23.3 seconds ± 23.1 versus 25.8 seconds ± 21.7 and WiR of 12.5 AU ± 6.2 versus 20.0 AU ± 12.1. ConclusionsCPSD reduced peripheral artery sympathetic tone and may be an alternative to surgical or computed tomography–guided sympathectomy for the treatment of end-stage peripheral artery disease and Raynaud phenomenon.