Nuclear ventriculography

The test is done while you are resting. The health care provider will inject a small amount of radioactive material called technetium into your vein. This substance attaches to red blood cells and passes through the heart. The red blood cells inside the heart that carry the material form an image that a special camera…

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

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.

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

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…

Abnormal results may be due to: Blockages in the coronary arteries ( coronary artery disease ) Heart valve disease Other cardiac disorders that weaken the heart muscle (reduced pumping function) Past heart attack ( myocardial infarction ) The test may also be performed for: Dilated cardiomyopathy Heart failure…

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.

Bogaert J, Symons R. Ischaemic heart disease. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 15. Dorbala S, Di Carli MF. Nuclear cardiology. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF,…