Equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography in single ventricle.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Nuclear Cardiology

Background:

• Advances in pediatric cardiology necessitate precise ventricular function assessment in single ventricle patients.
• Serial evaluation of ventricular function is crucial for understanding disease progression in these complex cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity of equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography for calculating ventricular ejection fraction in single ventricle complexes.
• To determine the optimal imaging view for accurate ejection fraction analysis.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen children with single ventricle complexes underwent equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography.
• Studies were performed using both anterior and left anterior oblique views.
• Ventricular ejection fraction was calculated and compared to cineangiographic data.

Main Results:

• Equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography demonstrated a close approximation to cineangiographic ejection fraction (54.0% vs 59.1%).
• The anterior view provided the best atrial-ventricular separation, leading to more accurate results.
• The method proved safe and easy to perform for serial assessments.

Conclusions:

• Equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography is a valid and reliable technique for assessing ventricular ejection fraction in single ventricle patients.
• The anterior view is recommended for region of interest selection and ejection fraction analysis in this population.