The nuclear stethoscope in the cardiac care unit

The portable single-crystal scintillation probe (nuclear stethoscope) provides beat-to-beat comparisons of stroke volume and gated measurements of ejection fraction. Comparisons of ejection fractions obtained with the stethoscope and a gamma camera show acceptable correlation except for readings in the very high and very low ranges. The use of the device has been demonstrated by showing changes in ejection fraction obtained with glyceryl trinitrate.