Assessment of right ventricular ejection fraction during intravenous 133Xe pulmonary ventilation study

Intravenous 133Xe in saline was used to estimate right-ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). In three healthy volunteers, the first pass RVEF with 133Xe was followed by RVEF estimation by intravenous 99mTc-pertechnetate. There was agreement between the 133Xe and 99mTc determined values. Subjects rebreathed the liberated 133Xe gas, allowing an estimation of regional pulmonary ventilation. Intravenous 133Xe in saline may have potential use in measuring RVEF, as well as in evaluating pulmonary function in cor pulmonale.