A normally functioning left ventricle will contract symmetrically, show even distribution of the radioactively tagged protein, and eject about 55-65% of volume of blood it holds on each contraction.
Patients with damage to the ventricle or heart wall will show an uneven distribution of the radiopharmaceutical. The volume of blood ejected in each contraction will be less than 55%.
A cardiac blood pool scan is a non-invasive test that uses a mildly radioactive marker to observe the functioning of the left ventricle of the heart.
Pregnant women are the only patients who should not participate in a cardiac blood pool scan.
A cardiac blood pool scan is sometimes called equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography or gated (synchronized) cardiac blood pool imaging.
A multiplegated acquisition (MUGA) scan is a variation of this test.
This test normally takes about 30 minutes.
Cardiac blood pool scans are a safe and effective way of measuring left ventricle function. The only risk is to the fetus of a pregnant woman.
It is also called a cardiac blood pool study
The patient may resume normal activities immediately.
To perform a cardiac blood pool scan, the patient lies under a special gamma scintillation camera that detects radiation. A protein tagged with a radioactive marker (usually technetium-99m) is injected into the patient's forearm.
The patient needs to remain silent and motionless during the test.
A computer is used to process the information from the test, then the results are analyzed by a doctor.
No changes in diet or medication are necessary. An ECG will probably be done before the test.
The scan can detect aneurysms of the left ventricle, motion abnormalities caused by damage to the heart wall, cardiac shunts between the left and right ventricle, and coronary occlusive artery disease.