Assessment of left ventricular performance and myocardial viability using quantitative radioisotope techniques.

Abstract

The diagnostic value of a combined radionuclide technique was compared with conventional angiocardiographic techniques in 60 patients with coronary artery disease. Quantitative 201Tl myocardial imaging combined with radionuclide angiocardiography using 99mTc-HSA provided a safe and accurate method for the assessment of left ventricular performance. The defects on the 201Tl images correlated with the severity of asynergy seen on the contrast ventriculogram. Static imaging alone distinguished hypokinetic from akinetic or dyskinetic areas. However, using both tracer techniques, akinesis could bedistinguished from dyskinesis. In patients with disturbed left ventricular function, cardiac transit times correlated with haemodynamic changes, and left ventricular ejection fraction was the most sensitive index. Thus, this combined radionuclide approach provides data for the evaluation of overall and regional wall function. A major advantage of this non-invasive auantitative technique is its applicability to the critically ill patient at the bedside.

Calculation of Coronary Angiographic Total Blush in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and its Prognostic Implication

“…[ 11 ] SPECT, positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging remained the most frequently used examination for cardiac muscle viability. [ 12 ] However, these examinations are time consuming and expensive. Most importantly, it is impossible to do the myocardial imaging and coronary artery imaging at the same time.…”

Assessment of Regional Wall Motion in Coronary Artery Disease Using Radionuclide Methods

“…Further data for assessment of global left and right ventricular function were obtained from high frequency histograms and R V E F and L V E F were calculated after correction for deadtime and non-cardiac background. (1,4,7). * This work was supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung in Österreich.…”

“…Assessment of global left ventricular function using non-invasive radionuclide methods has become a well-established method (1,4,7,8,9,10,12). However, in patients with ischemic heart disease a determination of regional wall motion is of utmost importance in the assessment of left ventricular performance.…”

European Perspectives

“…The group around Professor F. Kaindl, MD, at the University of Vienna was ambitious and making progress in the field of cardiology. 4,5 In 1986, new opportunities arose. Professor Pachinger says, "The general hospital in Wels, Upper Austria, had planned to subdivide a great Internal Medicine Department of 240 beds (cardiology, gastroenterology, and nephrology).…”