Monitoring of RV function by the nuclear cardiac single probe and Kr-81m

We evaluated left ventricular (LV) function in congestive heart failure (CHF) under the treatment of a vasodilator, ''Bucladesine Sodium'' (BS) in Coronary Care Unit (CCU), where is specially protected for radioisotopes. 11 patients with CHF were examined before and during BS infusion using the nuclear probe, and LV ejection fraction, relative cardiac output (RCO) and max dV/dt were evaluated. 4 patients without cardiac failure were also measured by the nuclear probe as a normal control group. As results, LV ejection fraction, RCO and max dV/dt of CHF group were increased during BS infusion with decreasing blood pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. We conclude that BS is a useful vasodilator drug for the treatment of CHF, and also the non-imaging nuclear cardiac probe is helpful in assessing global ventricular function in CCU, where rapid estimations of the ventricular function is needed. (author)