Radiation-Free Heart Catheterization Using MRI
Radiation-Free Heart Catheterization Using MRI
Currently catheters used in heart catheterization procedures are guided throughout the heart chambers and blood vessels by pictures taken by x-rays. This technology exposes patients to radiation. With this study protocol the investigators will use MRI technology to take real-time pictures to navigate catheters throughout heart chambers. MRI uses electromagnetic energy; therefore, it does not expose participants to radiation energy.
Participants undergo general anesthesia, and vascular access is obtained in the x-ray catheterization lab. Next the participant is transferred into the MRI scanner where a focused MRI examination is performed. Catheters are then guided into the heart chambers using real-time MRI guidance to perform conventional cardiac catheterization steps. If time allows, additional research MRI is performed before the participant is returned to the x-ray catheterization lab. If any MRI guided catheterization steps are unsuccessful, the clinically indicated step is performed after the participant returns to the x-ray catheterization lab using conventional x-ray guided pictures.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Cardiovascular instability including hemodynamic instability (such as requiring significant vasoactive infusion support) or mechanical hemodynamic support.
Women who are pregnant
Women who are nursing and who do not plan to discard breast milk for 24 hours
Patients with a contraindication to MRI scanning will be excluded. These contraindications include patients with the following devices:
Exclusion criteria for Gadolinium (contrast agent)
1. Renal disease with estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 body surface area