New imaging techniques for assessing cardiac function

In summary, newer imaging technologies yield three-dimensional pictures of the left ventricle. Detailed information is provided on regional wall motion, wall thickening, and ventricular volumes, which can be helpful in managing patients with cardiac disease. MR imaging gives the highest resolution images, and MR angiography can be invaluable in assessing the anatomy of an aortic dissection. Gated tomography with a technetium-based myocardial perfusion tracer can be thought of as a low-resolution cine MR imaging study. Combined function and perfusion nuclear studies performed at rest in an ICU can give information on myocardial perfusion and stunning, which is helpful in managing patients with acute ischemic syndromes. First pass RNA is probably the most accurate method for measuring RVEF and can be performed at the bedside using a portable multicrystal camera. Serial measurements of RVEF may be helpful in managing patients with pulmonary hypertension of various causes. For patients with documented acute myocardial infarction or chest pain and no acute myocardial necrosis or for patients undergoing preoperative risk assessment, combined perfusion and function using nuclear techniques yields both stress-induced ischemia and resting ventricular function in a single procedure and is timely and cost effective.