Use of Diffusion Tensor Imaging to Predict Myocardial Viability After Warm Global Ischemia: Possible Avenue for Use of Non-beating Donor Hearts

FA, an MRI-based parameter that indicates cellular integrity, was found to reflect better myocardial ATP stores, less induction of ET-1 and caspase-3 and improved functional recovery of hearts after global WI. As a clinically applicable tool capable of rapidly differentiating reversible from lethal injury, diffusion tensor imaging may prove useful in the eventual adoption of non-beating donor hearts for transplantation.