Combomap

Quantitative CAG analysis was performed offline (QCA-CMS version 7.3, MEDIS Medical, Leiden, The Netherlands) from a singular angiogram at the end diastolic phase to determine the coronary diameter at a fixed distance 5 mm from the tip of the Doppler crystal that was placed in the proximal or mid LAD. All analysis were performed by RF and independently by CB, JW and CV whom were unaware of the result of the test and the haemodynamic data. Measurements that differed >15 % were independently verified by a senior operator (MB).
Epicardial diameter change was assessed at the end diastolic phase and 5 mm from the tip of the Doppler crystal. Haemodynamic data was extracted from the digital archive (ComboMap, Philips-Volcano, San Diego, CA) and analysed offline using custom software written in Matlab (Mathworks, Inc, Natick, MA). Five-beat averages of instantaneous peak velocity (APV) and Pa were determined at baseline before acetylcholine infusion and at the end of each intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine. Coronary blood flow (CBF) was calculated as π (average peak velocity/2) (vessel diameter/2)² and coronary vascular resistance as the ratio of Pa to CBF.

At the end of the 21-day period, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE; Vevo2100, MS250 linear array probe, Visual Sonics, Toronto, ON, Canada) was performed on a spontaneously breathing rat anesthetized with sevoflurane (induction: 7% and maintenance: 4%) in oxygen. B-mode and pulsed wave Doppler images of the PT were acquired (1 (link)).
Subsequently, anesthetized animals (sevoflurane in a 3:1 mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide) were ventilated at 75 strokes/min with a tidal volume of 10 ml/kg (model 7025, Ugo Basile, Varese, Italy). Right heart catheterization (RHC) was performed through a left lateral thoracotomy. A 0.014-in. combined dual-tipped pressure and Doppler flow sensor wire (Combowire, Philips Volcano) was inserted through the RV outflow tract into the PT to acquire pressure and velocity data at a sampling rate of 200 Hz (Combomap, Philips Volcano). At the end of the procedure, animals were euthanized by decapitation.