INFLUENCE OF ATTENUATION ON RADIONUCLIDE STROKE VOLUME DETERMINATIONS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (9) , 781-785
Abstract
Using a method for determination of absolute volumes, including correcting for attenuation, the ability of the method to determine stroke volume in humans by radionuclide techniques was explored. Thermodilution cardiac output determinations and multigated equilibrium blood-pool scintigraphy in the LAO [left anterior oblique] view were performed simultaneously in 20 patients in which no evidence of intracardiac shunts or valvular disease was present. The correlation was good between the attenuated radionuclide and thermodilution stroke volume (r = 0.80, s.e.e. [SE of the estimate] = 12 ml; SVtd = 2.31 .times. SVr + 18 ml). When correction for attenuation was made, the correlation improved (r = 0.96, s.e.e. = 6 ml) and approached the line of identity (SVtd = 0.99 .times. SVr + 1.2 ml). The correlation was also good between radionuclide cardiac output, corrected for attenuation and the thermodilution cardiac output (r = 0.89, s.e.e. = 0.36 l/min; COtd = 0.86 .times. COr + 0.67 l/min). Correction for attenuation in the determination of absolute left-ventricular volumes was shown to provide a reliable, noninvasive means of calculation stroke volume and cardiac output in humans, without the use of geometric assumptions or regression equations.