MEASUREMENT OF STROKE VOLUME AND CARDIAC-OUTPUT WITHIN A SINGLE-BREATH HOLD WITH ECHO-PLANAR MR-IMAGING

The measurement of cardiac output and ejection fraction is useful in t he treatment of diverse cardiac and cardiopulmonary disease states. Al though several techniques are available for accurate measurement of le ft ventricular parameters, assessment of the right ventricle is less w ell represented. No single method is overwhelmingly superior, each hav ing different strengths and weaknesses. In the present study, the appl icability of an echo-planar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method in which a complete volumetric measurement of the right and left ventricl es may be obtained during 12 heartbeats is demonstrated. This rapidity permits imaging during a 15-second breath hold. The authors show in 1 2 volunteers that breath-hold echo-planar volume measurements of both ventricles were consistent with results obtained with conventional MR imaging methods.