A new route of transendocardial stem cell injection: from femoral vein to left ventricle through atrial septa

G. Wu, J. Zhu, F.-Y. Zhu, W.-G. Liang, H.-G. Zhu, P. Gao, H.-M. Shi, X.-P. Luo, T. Sun

Department of Critical Care Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. 071105190@fudan.edu.cn

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• Stem Cells

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new route of transendocardial stem cell injection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Atrial septal puncture was performed in six young male pigs, and then a 6F syringe was passed through the puncture to reach the left atrium. Meanwhile, a guide wire was inserted into the left ventricle through the femoral artery, and echocardiography was used to confirm the relative position of the guide wire with the syringe.

RESULTS: After atrial puncture through femoral vein, the syringe could reach the left atrium and finally the left ventricle. Echocardiography confirmed that both the guide wire and the syringe were located in the left ventricle. The diameter of atrial septa puncture and the diameter of the syringe implantation were 4.1 ± 0.5 mm and 8.4 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. But there is no difference in Left ventricle end-systolic dimension (LVES), left ventricle end-diastolic dimension (LVED) and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) before surgery, after atrial septa puncture, after syringe implantation or one month after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to perform transendocardial stem cell injection by 6F syringe inserted through femoral vein. The surgery may cause atrial septa tearing but does not jeopardize myocardial function.

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