MR-guided balloon angioplasty of stenosed aorta: In vivo evaluation using near-standard instruments and a passive tracking technique<FNR HREF="fn1"></FNR><FN ID="fn1">Presented at the ISMRM Annual Meeting, 1999 </FN>

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided balloon angioplasty of a stenosed aorta on an open low-field magnet using a passive tracking technique. Visualization of vessels and position of instruments were realized by using a fast low-angle shot (FLASH) sequence. Catheters and guidewire were prepared for susceptibility-based MR visualization. Standard balloon catheters were inflated with diluted gadolinium, and nitinol guidewires were modified by incorporation of iron oxide markers into their walls. After validation on a flow phantom, balloon angioplasty was performed on an in vivo model of arterial stenosis. Creation of abdominal aorta stenosis was realized in five piglets. MR-guided balloon angioplasty of the aorta was performed with success in all but one. In one of them, stent implantation was achieved in the descending aorta. Balloon angioplasty using a passive tracking technique is a simple concept that can be realized with near-standard instruments and any MR imaging system. This represents an advance toward MR-guided vascular interventions in the future. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000;12:639–644. &#169; 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.