Comparative evaluation of thermodilution and gated blood pool method for determination of right ventricular ejection fraction at rest and during exercise

Background. Since the development of a Swan-Ganz thermodilution ejection fr action catheter several studies have been published which compare this tech nique for obtaining right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEFTD) with alter native methods. However, the reliability of RVEFTD measurements under exerc ise conditions remains undetermined. Therefore, the aim of the present stud y was a comparative evaluation of RVEFTD with the established gated blood p ool method (RVEFGBP) under exercise conditions. Methods and Results: Twenty -two patients with different cardiac diseases underwent right heart cathete rization, including RVEFTD and simultaneous RVEFGBP determination at rest a nd during supine bicycle exercise. Linear regression analysis showed a sign ificant correlation between RVEFTD and RVEFGBP at rest (r = 0.73, p less th an or equal to 5 0.0005) and during exercise (r = 0.74, p :5 0.0005). A Wil coxon analysis showed a high probability of agreement of RVEFTD and RVEFGBP at rest and exercise (level of significance for error of the 0 hypothesis of 95.9/73.3%). Conclusion: The thermodilution ejection fraction catheter p rovides a useful device for reliable, repetitive and safe RVEF measurements , not only at rest but also under exercise conditions. This seems to be cli nically important, because by it means RVEF, as a sensitive parameter of pr imary or secondary right ventricular dysfunction, can be determined in the course of standard right heart catheterization. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karge r AG, Basel.