Establishment and evaluation of a swine model of acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion–ventricular fibrillation–cardiac arrest using the interventional technique

Background: Ventricular fibrillation is the main cause of sudden cardiac death among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Substantial benefits could be obtained by both researchers and practitioners if an AMI reperfusion-ventricular fibrillation-cardiac arrest model were established. Methods: Twenty swine were anesthetized and underwent occlusion of the left anterior descending branch for 90 minutes prior to blood reperfusion. Throughout this process, continuous 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) was used to monitor heart rate, rhythm, and electrocardiogram alteration. Thereafter, AMI was confirmed by ECG and left ventricular angiography. Heart tissue was collected for pathological analysis, and for evaluation of the establishment of a model of AMI reperfusion. Results: Seven swine died during the model establishment, and the 13 surviving swine were proven to have myocardial infarction; nine of those survivors had ventricular fibrillation–cardiac arrest after reperfusion based on the electrocardiograph and pathological examination. Conclusion: Blocking the left anterior descending branch by inflation of an over-the-wire coronary balloon catheter in swine can result in successful establishment of a swine model of AMI and reperfusion–ventricular fibrillation–cardiac arrest, with good reproducibility and a high survival rate