Perfusion imaging with 320-slice spiral computed tomography and color-coded digital subtraction angiography for assessing acute skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rabbit model

In recent years, skeletal muscle-related ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) has become more common. IRI can lead to severe limb injuries, multiple organ failure, and even death in some cases. However, there is still a lack of rapid and sensitive detection methods for IRI in skeletal muscle. This study aims to explore the value of computed tomography perfusion imaging (CTPI) and color-coded digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in assessing acute IRI of skeletal muscle in a rabbit model. Fifty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to the ischemia-reperfusion (IR) group (n = 40) or sham group (n = 10). After 3 h of surgically-induced hindlimb ischemia, the IR group underwent reperfusion and CTPI and color-coded DSA were taken to assess the skeletal muscle at 0, 6, 12, or 24 h post-reperfusion. The data from CTPI and DSA in the right and left hindlimbs, blood flow (AF-R/L), blood volume (BV-R/L), contrast clearance rate (C-R/L) and the maximum contrast enhancement values (peak-R/L) were obtained. Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), creatine kinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. The statistical correlation between the above parameters (CTPI, color-coded DSA, and biochemical markers) was analyzed. The mean value of AF-R/L, BV-R/L, C-R/L and peak-R/L decreased linearly from 1.07 ± 0.08 to 0.75 ± 0.11, 1.03 ± 0.06 to 0.85 ± 0.14, 0.93 ± 0.15 to 0.71 ± 0.18, and 1.07 ± 0.01 to 0.47 ± 0.04, respectively. The correlation coefficients between AF-R/L and SOD, CK, LDH and MDA were 0.57, − 0.44, − 0.60, and − 0.62, respectively (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficients between Peak-R/L and SOD, CK, LDH, MDA were 0.59, 0.68, 0.71 and 0.66, respectively (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficient between AF-R/L and Peak-R/L was 0.70 (p < 0.001). Both CTPI and color-coded DSA could dynamically assess skeletal muscle IRI in rabbits.