Bench coronary cineangiography. A possible way to increase the number of hearts available for transplantation.

The method of "bench coronary cineangiography," that is, ex vivo contrast examination of the donor heart before implantation, is presented. The procedure appears to be most effective in detecting pathologic changes in the coronary arterial system of the explanted heart and thus would allow substantial extension of the age limits of donor hearts that may be acceptable for transplantation.