NONINVASIVE RADIONUCLIDE ASSESSMENT OF CARDIAC-FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH PERIPHERAL VASCULAR-DISEASE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 85  (1) , 59-70
Abstract
Peripheral vascular disorders are often associated with heart disease which may increase operative risk. The clinical usefulness of radionuclide angiocardiography for evaluation of cardiac function in patients with vascular disorders was examined. This simple procedure measures cardiac output, pulmonary blood volume and left ventricular end-diastolic volume, stroke volume and ejection fraction with no significant risk or discomfort to the patient. Patients (22) with vascular disorders were studied by this technique and 5 had systemic arteriovenous malformations. Cardiac output, end-diastolic volume and stroke volume were greater than normal in these patients before operation. In 3 patients following closure of the arteriovenous fistula, cardiac output, left ventricular end-diastolic volume and stroke volume decreased. Postoperative changes in left ventricular ejection fraction varied. Patients (17) with atherosclerotic vascular disease underwent cardiac evaluation. In 9 patients with no history of cardiac disease, the lowest ejection fraction of 0.45 occurred in a patient with a saccular thoracic aneurysm, the only patient who died after operation. Ejection fraction varied from 0.32 to 0.86 in patients with a history of cardiac disease. Measurement of cardiac function by radionuclide angiocardiography appears to aid management of patients with peripheral vascular disorders.