Nuclear Ventriculography

How to Prepare for the Test

You may be told not to eat or drink for several hours before the test.

How the Test will Feel

You may feel a brief sting or pinch when the IV is inserted into your vein. Most often, a vein in the arm is used. You may have trouble staying still during the test.

Why the Test is Performed

The test will show how well the blood is pumping through different parts of the heart.

Normal Results

Normal results show that the heart squeezing function is normal. The test can check the overall squeezing strength of the heart (ejection fraction). A normal value is above 50% to 55%.

The test also can check the motion of different parts of the heart. If one part of the heart is moving poorly while the others move well, it may mean that there has been damage to that part of the heart.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Abnormal results may be due to:

• Blockages in the coronary arteries (coronary artery disease)
• Heart valve disease
• Other cardiac disorders that weaken the heart (reduced pumping function)
• Past heart attack (myocardial infarction)

The test may also be performed for:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Heart failure
• Idiopathic cardiomyopathy
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy
• Ischemic cardiomyopathy
• Testing whether a medicine has affected heart function

Risks

Nuclear imaging tests carry a very low risk. Exposure to the radioisotope delivers a small amount of radiation. This amount is safe for people who DO NOT have nuclear imaging tests often.

References

Kramer CM, Beller GA, Hagspiel KD. Noninvasive cardiac imaging. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 56.

Udelson JE, Dilsizian V, Bonow RO. Nuclear cardiology. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 16.