TECHNEGAS VERSUS KRYPTON-81M GAS AS AN INHALATION AGENT - COMPARISON OF PULMONARY DISTRIBUTION AT TOTAL LUNG CAPACITY

Exactly how the pulmonary distribution of inhaled radioactive gas and Technegas, or ultra-small aerosol particulates, differs from each othe r, is still uncertain. The authors compared the distribution of inhale d Kr-81m gas and Technegas in the lungs at total lung capacity in 13 c ontrol subjects with no clinical conditions and 13 patients with vario us chest diseases. In normal lungs, there was no difference in the dis tribution ratios in the right and left lungs between inhaled Kr-81m ga s and Technegas. However, there was a significant difference in the lu ngs of patients with pulmonary disease. Technegas tended to deposit mo re in the lung bases than did Kr-81m gas. Despite these statistical di fferences, they were visually, or qualitatively, similar. From a pract ical and clinical standpoint, Technegas seems to be useful as an inhal ation agent, unless quantitative analyses are required.