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[Automatic calculation of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction from gated myocardial perfusion SPECT--basic evaluation using phantom].

We evaluated accuracy of Quantitative Gated SPECT Program that enabled calculation of the left ventricular (LV) volume and ejection fraction by automatically tracing the contour of the cardiac surface. Cardiac phantoms filled with 99mTc-solution were used. Data acquisition was made by 180-degree projection in L type and 360-degree projection in opposed type. Automatic calculation could be done in all processes, which required 3-4 minutes. Reproducibility was sufficient. The adequate cut off value of a prefilter was 0.45. At this value LV volume was 93% of the actual volume in L type acquisition and 95.9% in opposed type acquisition. The LV volume obtained in L type was smaller than that obtained in opposed type (p < 0.05). The tracing of the defects was fair, on the cardiac phantoms with all of 90-degree defects and 180-degree defects of the septal and lateral wall. The LV volume was estimated to be larger on the phantom with 180-degree defect of the anterior wall, and to be smaller on the phantom of 180-degree defect of the inferoposterior wall. Because tracing was deviated anteriorly at the defects. In the patients with similar conditions to 180-degree defect of the anterior wall or inferoposterior wall, the LV volume should be carefully evaluated.

Cardiomyopathies↗

Sensitivity and specificity of left ventricular ejection fraction by echocardiographic automated border detection: comparison with radionuclide ventriculography.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiographic automated border detection (ABD) provides on-line, beat-to-beat estimation of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF). Sensitivity and specificity of using ABD-EF for diagnosing LV dysfunction in routine clinical situations have not been previously studied. HYPOTHESIS: Analysis of ABD-EF data based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) should provide useful information about sensitivity and specificity for clinical diagnosis of LV function based on ABD-EF. METHODS: The study group included 50 consecutive patients with EF measured by both ABD and radionuclide ventriculography (RVG). ABD-EF was recorded for 25 consecutive heart beats in the apical four-chamber view. Data were analyzed statistically by linear regression, Bland-Altman plot, and ROC. In ROC analysis, abnormal LV function was defined RVG-EF < or = 40%. RESULTS: ABD and RVG showed a moderate correlation in the EF measurements: slope = 0.93, intercept = 17%, r = 0.79 (n = 50). Interbeat variability in ABD was diminished by averaging consecutive beats; standard error of estimate (SEE) decreased from 15.6% without averaging to 12.5% with 25-beat averaging. Bland-Altman analysis indicated that ABD-EF compared unfavorably with RVG-EF, with limits of agreement from -11% to 39%. ABD-EF showed a systematic overestimation (p < 0.005), which was compensated by increasing the threshold for abnormal ABD-EF to 56%. With the optimized threshold, ABD-EF provided 89% sensitivity and 89% specificity (85% overall diagnostic accuracy) for diagnosing abnormal LV function. CONCLUSION: This study explored the limitations of on-line echocardiographic measurement of EF in a clinical setting and provided useful data for assessing interbeat variability, sensitivity, and specificity.

Aged↗

Comparison of plasma N-brain natriuretic peptide, peak oxygen consumption, and left ventricular ejection fraction for severity of chronic heart failure.

We investigated whether a simple blood test of plasma N-brain natriuretic peptide (N-BNP), compared with echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), both measured at rest, correlated well with aerobic exercise capacity (peak oxygen consumption [VO(2)]) in patients with chronic heart failure. Plasma N-BNP was found to significantly correlate with peak VO(2) (p <0.001) and exercise duration (p = 0.001), whereas LVEF showed very poor correlations with peak VO(2) and exercise duration (both p >0.3). The results suggest that N-BNP actually reflects functional cardiac impairment better than LVEF.

Case-Control Studies↗

Real-time simultaneous triplane contrast echocardiography gives rapid, accurate, and reproducible assessment of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction: a comparison with magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the feasibility, accuracy, and reproducibility of simultaneous triplane echocardiography for measurements of left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) with reference to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Digital echocardiography recordings of apical LV views with and without intravenous contrast were collected from 53 consecutive patients with conventional 2-dimensional (2D) imaging and with simultaneous triplane imaging. MRI of multiple LV short-axis sections was performed with a 1.5-T scanner. Endocardial borders were manually traced, and LV volumes and EF from 2D biplane echocardiography and MRI were calculated by method of disks. On triplane data, a triangular mesh was constructed by 3-dimensional interpolation and volumes calculated by the divergence theorem. RESULTS: Triplane image acquisition was less time-consuming than 2D biplane. Precontrast feasibility was 72% for triplane and 82% for 2D biplane images, increasing to 98% and 100% with contrast, respectively. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated LV volume underestimation by echocardiography versus MRI, which was significantly reduced by contrast and triplane imaging. The 95% limits of agreement for EF between echocardiography and MRI narrowed using triplane compared with 2D biplane (precontrast -12.5 to 6.7% vs -17.2 to 9.9%, and with contrast -7.1 to 5.8% vs -9.4 to 6.4%, respectively). At intraobserver and interobserver analysis of 20 patients, limits of agreement for EF narrowed with contrast triplane compared with 2D biplane. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous LV triplane imaging is feasible with simple and rapid image acquisition and volume analysis, and with contrast enhancement it gives accurate and reproducible LV EF measurements compared with MRI.

Computer Systems↗

A novel two-dimensional echocardiographic image analysis system using artificial intelligence-learned pattern recognition for rapid automated ejection fraction.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to test the hypothesis that a novel 2-dimensional echocardiographic image analysis system using artificial intelligence-learned pattern recognition can rapidly and reproducibly calculate ejection fraction (EF). BACKGROUND: Echocardiographic EF by manual tracing is time consuming, and visual assessment is inherently subjective. METHODS: We studied 218 patients (72 female), including 165 with abnormal left ventricular (LV) function. Auto EF incorporated a database trained on >10,000 human EF tracings to automatically locate and track the LV endocardium from routine grayscale digital cineloops and calculate EF in 15 s. Auto EF results were independently compared with manually traced biplane Simpson's rule, visual EF, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a subset. RESULTS: Auto EF was possible in 200 (92%) of consecutive patients, of which 77% were completely automated and 23% required manual editing. Auto EF correlated well with manual EF (r = 0.98; 6% limits of agreement) and required less time per patient (48 +/- 26 s vs. 102 +/- 21 s; p < 0.01). Auto EF correlated well with visual EF by expert readers (r = 0.96; p < 0.001), but interobserver variability was greater (3.4 +/- 2.9% vs. 9.8 +/- 5.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). Visual EF was less accurate by novice readers (r = 0.82; 19% limits of agreement) and improved with trainee-operated Auto EF (r = 0.96; 7% limits of agreement). Auto EF also correlated with MRI EF (n = 21) (r = 0.95; 12% limits of agreement), but underestimated absolute volumes (r = 0.95; bias of -36 +/- 27 ml overall). CONCLUSIONS: Auto EF can automatically calculate EF similarly to results by manual biplane Simpson's rule and MRI, with less variability than visual EF, and has clinical potential.

Aged↗

Accuracy of left ventricular ejection fraction determined by gated myocardial perfusion SPECT with Tl-201 and Tc-99m sestamibi: comparison with first-pass radionuclide angiography.

BACKGROUND: We compared estimates of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessed by gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), using both technetium-99m sestamibi and thallium-201, with those obtained by first-pass radionuclide angiography (FPRNA) in patients with a broad spectrum of LVEF and perfusion abnormalities. METHODS: Sixty-three patients were randomly selected to undergo a dual isotope gated SPECT study (rest Tl-201 followed by adenosine Tc-99m sestamibi scintigraphy). Studies were processed by use of the Cedars quantitative gated SPECT software. FPRNA was acquired during an intravenous bolus injection of Tc-99m sestamibi and processed with a commercially available software. RESULTS: The estimates of LVEF were similar (P = NS) with Tl-201 gated SPECT (54% +/- 15%), Tc-99m gated SPECT (54% +/- 16%), and FPRNA (54% +/- 12%). There was an excellent correlation between Tc-99m and Tl-201 gated SPECT (Pearson's r = 0.92, P < .0001). There were also good linear correlations between Tc-99m sestamibi gated SPECT and FPRNA (Pearson's r = 0.85, P < .0001), as well as between Tl-201 gated SPECT and FPRNA (Pearson's r = 0.84, P < .0001). In the 16 patients with LVEF < 50%, Tc-99m sestamibi gated SPECT and FPRNA (Pearson's r = 0.84, P < .0001) and Tl-201 gated SPECT and FPRNA (Pearson's r = 0.92, P < .0001) correlated well. CONCLUSION: LVEF can be accurately assessed by gated SPECT with either Tc-99m sestamibi or Tl-201 in properly selected patients with normal or depressed left ventricular function.

Adenosine↗

Systematic review and meta-analysis: does gall-bladder ejection fraction on cholecystokinin cholescintigraphy predict outcome after cholecystectomy in suspected functional biliary pain?

BACKGROUND: Patients with suspected functional biliary pain often undergo cholecystectomy if a decreased gall-bladder ejection fraction (GBEF <35%) is demonstrated by cholecystokinin cholescintigraphy. However, the validity of GBEF in predicting which patients will have symptomatic relief following cholecystectomy is unclear. AIM: To determine whether patients with suspected functional biliary pain with decreased GBEF have a better symptomatic outcome after cholecystectomy than those with normal GBEF. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the published literature through MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. RESULTS: We included nine studies with a total of 974 patients with suspected functional biliary pain; 362 patients underwent cholecystectomy. Most studies assessed outcome by direct patient interview. Mean ages across the studies ranged from 35 to 47 years; 78% of all patients were female. Mean duration of follow-up after surgery ranged from 1 to 2.5 years. After cholecystectomy, 94% of the patients with reduced GBEF had a positive outcome compared to 85% among those with normal GBEF. The pooled Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio for positive outcome was 1.37 (95% confidence interval 0.56-3.34), P=0.56. CONCLUSION: These data do not support the use of GBEF to select patients with suspected functional biliary pain for cholecystectomy. Prospective randomized trials are required if this practice is to be evidence-based.

Cholecystectomy↗

Limitation of physical activity, dyspnoea and chest pain before and two years after coronary artery bypass grafting in relation to preoperative ejection fraction.

To investigate the relationships between limitation of physical activity and dyspnoea and chest pain before and 2 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), questionnaires were issued to all patients from Western Sweden who underwent CABG during 1988-1991. The analysis comprised 985 patients. Physical activity improved significantly after CABG regardless of the preoperative LVEF. No significant association was found between LVEF and degree of limitation of physical activity before or after surgery. Dyspnoea and chest pain improved markedly, irrespective of LVEF. There was significant association between freedom from dyspnoea and LVEF preoperatively (less dyspnoea with higher LVEF), but not after CABG. The frequency of chest-pain attacks was not related to LVEF, before or after the operation. Thus physical activity, dyspnoea and chest pain improved in the 2 years after CABG irrespective of preoperative LVEF. Absence of dyspnoea was related to LVEF before, but not after surgery, and there was no association between preoperative LVEF and frequency of anginal attacks before or after CABG.

Cause of Death↗

Impact of Wiener filter in determining the left ventricular volume and ejection fraction using thallium-201 gated SPECT.

Patient morphology, as well as the acquisition and reconstruction parameters, may influence the evaluation of the left ventricular volume (LVV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) using gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of gender and reconstruction filter on the measurement of LVV and LVEF using 201Tl gated SPECT. Using a static torso phantom, a female shape was created by the addition of two saline solution-filled balloons fixed on the anterior rib cage. The following parameters were similar for all acquisitions: 90 degrees dual-head gamma camera; 32 projections; 64x64 matrix (pixel size=6.77x6.77 mm); two 20% energy windows centred at 70 and 167 keV. The following acquisition times were tested: 1.25, 10, 20, 30 and 40 s per projection, leading to a total of 10 successive acquisitions. The effect of over-sampling was tested by 2.5 post-acquisition zooming. All SPECT images were successively reconstructed using filtered back-projection with Butterworth and Wiener filters. The effect of gender and reconstruction filter was also studied in 30 patients (15 males and 15 females) with a low likelihood of coronary artery disease. LVVs were calculated using QGS software. By multivariate analysis, the following factors influenced the accuracy of phantom measurement using QGS software: zooming (F=49, P<0.0001), phantom shape (F=61, P<0.0001) and filter type (F=240, P<0.0001). LVV was underestimated in the female shape phantom, even when using the Wiener filter. In patients, LVV and LVEF measurements were independently influenced by gender (P<0.0001) and filter (P<0.0001), but not by zooming. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that LVV was significantly decreased in the female shape phantom, suggesting a significant impact of breast interposition. This underestimation was minimized by use of the Wiener filter. In patients, the impact of the Wiener filter on the assessment of LVVs and LVEF was powerful, but independent of gender, and failed to correct the underestimation of LVVs and the overestimation of LVEF in females.

Algorithms↗

Assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction using long-axis systolic function is independent of image quality: a study of tissue Doppler imaging and m-mode echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is technically difficult in patients with poor image quality (IQ). Mitral annulus velocity assessed by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and mitral annulus motion assessed by M-mode echocardiography has been shown to correlate with LVEF. Furthermore, mitral annulus sites are easy to identify even in patients with poor IQ. The purpose of this study was to determine whether these methods are useful for estimating LVEF in patients with poor IQ. METHODS: One hundred ten patients underwent TDI and M-mode echocardiography simultaneously. Mitral annulus velocity and mitral annulus motion were obtained from each of the four mitral annulus sites. Mean mitral annular peak systolic velocities (Sm) and mean mitral annular motions (MAM) were calculated by averaging at each site. IQ was defined according to a previous report. RESULTS: Both Sm and MAM were successfully measured in all patients. Mean Sm and mean MAM correlated with LVEF. These correlations were observed not only in patients with good IQ (p < 0.001, r = 0.61 for mean Sm; p < 0.001, r = 0.61 for mean MAM) or fair IQ (p < 0.001, r = 0.58 for mean Sm; p < 0.001, r = 0.68 for mean MAM) but also in patients with poor IQ (p < 0.05, r = 0.42 for mean Sm, p < 0.001, r = 0.61 for mean MAM). Using optimal cutoff values of mean Sm and mean MAM in each IQ group, sensitivity and specificity for identifying LVEF < 50% were comparable among three IQ groups. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of long-axis systolic function by TDI and M-mode echocardiography enables estimation of LVEF even in patients with poor IQ.

Aged↗

Assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction measured by quantitative gated SPECT: correlation with left ventriculography and first-pass radionuclide angiography.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by quantitative gated SPECT (QGS). We compared the efficacy of LVEF assessment among Tc-99m tetrofosmin gated SPECT imaging, contrast left ventriculography (LVG), and first-pass radionuclide angiography (FP). PATIENTS: One-hundred and seven patients with ischemic heart disease underwent QGS and LVG simultaneously within 3 months, and 92 of the 107 patients also underwent FP at the same time. RESULTS: QGS progressively overestimated LVEF at the lower range of end-systolic volume (ESV), especially in patients with small hearts. Moreover, the QGS technique systemically tended to underestimate LVEF in comparison with LVG. However, linear regression analysis demonstrated a good correlation between the LVEF values measured by QGS and those measured by both LVG (p<0.0001) and FP (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Although QGS has a tendency to overestimate LVEF in patients with small hearts, and to systemically underestimate LVEF compared with LVG, this technique is still a reliable clinical tool for measurement of LVEF.

Aged↗

Interrelation of left ventricular ejection fraction, pulmonary congestion and outcome in acute myocardial infarction.

The interrelation of different grades of pulmonary congestion evaluated by chest roentgenogram in the coronary care unit, predischarge left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and long-term prognosis was studied in 1,850 surviving patients of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Pulmonary congestion was categorized as: none, mild or moderate, or severe; LVEF was classified as: greater than or equal to 40%, 25 to 39%, or less than 25%. The majority of patients (1,060; 57%) had an LVEF greater than or equal to 40% and no signs of pulmonary congestion. Severe pulmonary congestion was noted in 63 patients (3.4%), 17 with LVEF less than 25% and 16 with LVEF greater than or equal to 40%. One hundred twenty-five patients (6.8%) had an LVEF less than 25%, 49 of whom had no signs of pulmonary congestion. During a mean 2-year follow-up, cardiac mortality occurred in 212 patients (11.5%). The cardiac mortality rate was related to both predischarge LVEF impairment and severity of pulmonary congestion. Cardiac mortality hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals [CI]) for LVEF less than 25%, and 25 to 39% were 5.32 (CI 3.49, 8.13; p less than 0.0001) and 2.91 (CI 2.10, 4.02; p less than 0.0001), respectively, where a referent hazard ratio of 1 was assigned to patients with LVEF greater than or equal to 40% and to those with no pulmonary congestion. Development of pulmonary congestion during AMI significantly increased the cardiac mortality risk derived from LVEF, with a marked mortality effect in patients with severe pulmonary congestion; (hazard ratio 4.20; 95% CI 2.67, 6.62; p less than 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy affects left ventricular mass in patients with ejection fraction > 40% after acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy decreases left ventricular (LV) mass in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 40% and no evidence of heart failure after their first acute Q wave myocardial infarction (MI). BACKGROUND: Recently, ACE inhibitor therapy has been shown to have an early mortality benefit in unselected patients with acute MI, including patients without heart failure and a LVEF > 35%. However, the effects on LV mass and volume in this patient population have not been studied. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with a LVEF > 40% after their first acute Q wave MI were randomized to titrated oral ramipril (n = 20) or conventional therapy (control, n = 15). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed an average of 7 days and 3 months after MI provided LV volumes and mass from summated serial short-axis slices. RESULTS: Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index did not change in ramipril-treated patients (62 +/- 16 [SD] to 66 +/- 17 ml/m2) or in control patients (62 +/- 16 to 68 +/- 17 ml/m2), and stroke volume index increased significantly in both groups. However, LV mass index decreased in ramipril-treated patients (82 +/- 18 to 73 +/- 19 g/m2, p = 0.0002) but not in the control patients (77 +/- 15 to 79 +/- 23 g/m2). Systolic arterial pressure did not change in either group at 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a LVEF > 40% after acute MI, ramipril decreased LV mass, and blood pressure and LV function were unchanged after 3 months of therapy. Whether the decrease in mass represents a sustained effect that is associated with a decrease in morbid events requires further investigation.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

The relation between mitral annulus motion and ejection fraction changes with age and heart size.

Mitral annulus motion (MAM) has recently been introduced as an index of left ventricular function. Several echocardiographic studies have shown good agreement between ejection fraction (EF) and MAM x 5, where MAM is the total mitral annulus motion, measured in mm, and EF is expressed as a percentage. This means that if MAM is used for estimation of left ventricular function, the conversion factor 5 is used, if the function is expressed as EF. In these studies, the mean age of the patients was over 60 years. The present study, including 102 patients, shows that in patients aged 20-40 years, the conversion factor is about 4.3, in patients aged 41-60 years it is about 4.6 and in patients aged 61-80 years it is about 5.0. It was also found that the ratio EF/MAM decreases with increasing height and left ventricular diameter, both variables closely connected to heart size. The results suggest that when MAM is used in assessment of left ventricular function, it is unwise to express the function in terms of EF. It is preferable to use MAM as a direct index of ventricular function, using reference values referred to aged and height. If the estimated function is expressed in terms of EF, different converting factors must be used depending on the age of the patients.

Adult↗

Range of normal values for left and right ventricular ejection fraction at rest and during exercise assessed by radionuclide angiocardiography.

In order to reach a world-wide consensus on the normal range of left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF) at rest and during exercise, pooled data of 1200 normal subjects from 28 leading centres in the field of nuclear cardiology (68% of those contacted) was analysed. Weighted mean normal values for LVEF at rest were 62.3 +/- 6.1% (ISD) with a lower limit of normal of 50% and for RVEF 52.3 +/- 6.2% (N = 365) with a lower limit of normal of 40%. During exercise, LVEF increased in 475 subjects by +8.0 EF% (range 3-15%), a normal increase being accepted to be greater than or equal to 5% over a normal resting value for both LVEF and RVEF. Subgroup analysis of results at rest revealed no significant differences regarding selection of normal subjects (based on normal catheterization findings vs. normal volunteers with low probability of disease), age or sex. During exercise, however, significantly larger increases in LVEF measurements were noted for men versus women (P less than 0.01), for normal volunteers versus subjects selected as 'normals' based on a normal coronary angiogram (P less than 0.001) and for younger versus older subjects (P less than 0.001). Data on reproducibility and variability showed that radionuclide angiocardiography can be considered to be a reliable method today. No consensus was found for measurements of regional LV function or wall motion mainly because of differences in methodology used. These normal values may serve as general guidelines for future applications of these techniques but factors which may influence the normal range as defined and discussed in this study should be recognized.

Adult↗

Prediction of heart failure post myocardial infarction: comparison of ejection fraction, transmitral filling parameters, and the index of myocardial performance.

UNLABELLED: Following an acute myocardial infarction (MI), the development of congestive heart failure (CHF) has been associated with a reduced ejection fraction (EF), pseudonormal or restrictive diastolic filling, and an increased index of myocardial performance (IMP). STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the comparative predictive value of EF, transmitral filling parameters, and IMP for the development of CHF following a first MI. DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective analysis of consecutive echocardiographic and Doppler studies in patients admitted for their first acute MI from the years 1988 through 1992. We studied 109 patients following their first MI with two-dimensional and Doppler within 24 hours of MI. We divided patients into those who developed CHF within 15 days (43 patients) and without CHF (66 patients). RESULTS: Patients who developed CHF had greater LV dilatation, lower EF (27.7%+/- 10.2% vs 45.6%+/- 13.2%, P < 0.001), higher E/A, shorter deceleration times (DCT; 157 +/- 69 msec vs 248 +/- 105 msec, P < 0.001), and increased IMP. Utilizing multiple logistic regression, EF (strongest predictor), DCT, and IMP were predictive of CHF. Nineteen patients in the no CHF group developed late CHF and had lower EFs (30.5%+/- 13.1% vs 50.5%+/- 9.8%, P < 0.001), higher E/A and shorter DCTs (161 +/- 39 msec vs 283 +/- 103 msec, P < 0.001). EF, DCT, and E/A were predictive of late CHF in patients without initial CHF. For patients admitted with a first MI, the EF, DCT, and to a lesser extent IMP predicted who would ultimately develop CHF. An EF < 40% or a DCT < 200 msec correctly predicted CHF in 60 of 62 patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the early and ultimate development of CHF following a first MI were associated with an moderately reduced EF < 40%, pseudonormal diastolic filling indices, and an increased IMP.

Aged↗

First-third ejection fraction at rest compared with exercise radionuclide angiography in assessing patients with coronary artery disease.

To compare two methods of evaluating patients with coronary artery disease, the authors assessed the ejection fraction (EF) during the first-third (1/3) of systole by first-pass radionuclide angiography and the EF response to exercise in 22 normal individuals and 40 patients. The 1/3 EF was calculated by averaging 3--5 beats on the time--activity curve. Exercise EFs were obtained by gated cardiac imaging. The results are shown below, including the per cent change in EF with exercise (% EF). (Formula: see text) p less than 0.05 vs. normals; p less than 0.001 vs. normals; all results are +/- SD. Thirty per cent of patients had a depressed EF, 98% had a depressed 1/3 EF, and 88% had an abnormal EF response to exercise. It is concluded that the 1/3 EF by first-pass radionuclide angiography at rest may be at least as sensitive in identifying patients with coronary artery disease as the EF response to exercise.

Adult↗

Validation of a digital videodensitometric program analysis for measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction.

Left ventricular (LV) function was studied in 30 patients using digital subtraction angiography by the intravenous approach. Each ventriculogram was processed with a specific videodensitometric analysis to determine LV ejection fraction. The program was verified in an experimental set-up consisting of nine latex balloons filled with contrast medium. Its validation has been established by comparing videodensitometric results with classical results supplied by geometric methods. A good correlation was obtained (r = 0.9449) and, furthermore, with experimental models, videodensitometric analysis seemed to be more accurate than geometric analysis. Digital videodensitometry appears to be a valuable and accurate method for quantifying LV function, and a promising technique for determination of the real volumes.

Adolescent↗