Diagnosis based on nuclear medicine in intensive care as demonstrated by acute and chronic failures of blood flow (brain, lungs, heart, kidneys)

The value of nuclear medicine procedures which are noninvasive and impose little burden on the patient is assessed with respect of intensive care. Firstly, additional data are available to evaluate physiological functions. Secondly, these functions can be monitored under therapy. Thirdly, screening of the contralateral organ or of other organs can be provided. Cerebral procedures yield values of regional cerebral blood flow (ml/100 g/min) in addition to the morphological findings of CT. Cardiovascular procedures are supplementary in describing the regional as well as the global cardiac function. Using myocardium imaging with thallium-201 the extent of infarction can be estimated. In the crucial diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, radionuclide studies provide the necessary information. Renal procedures evaluate single kidney function yielding clearance values (ml/min). Furthermore, radionuclide flow studies are useful to detect early complications of transplanted kidneys. Diagnostic procedures with radionuclides if all instruments were care could be even more efficient if all instruments were available in the intensive care unit or could be transported there instead of transferring the patients to the nuclear medicine department. (orig.)