UNLABELLED Sincalide-stimulated cholescintigraphy is performed to quantify gallbladder contraction and emptying. However, different infusion methods are used for this study. Our purpose was to determine the infusion method with the least variability (smallest coefficient of variation [CV]) for calculation of the gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) in healthy subjects and to establish normal va...

Ejection fraction (EF) is an important indicator of cardiac function, especially in clinical conditions. Unlike imaging technology such as echocardiography, impedance cardiography (ICG) a low-cost, non-invasive and continuous method monitoring EF. However, the accuracy ICG to evaluate EF value needs be further improved. This paper uses simplified ventricular model simplify complex relationship ...

OBJECTIVE To assess resting and exercise echocardiography for prediction of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with significant asymptomatic aortic regurgitation. DESIGN Cohort study of patients with aortic regurgitation. SETTING Tertiary referral centre specialising in valvar surgery. PATIENTS 61 patients (38 men, 23 women; mean (SD) age 53 (14) years) with asymptomatic or minimall...

In most patients with aortic regurgitation, valve replacement results in reduction in left ventricular dilatation and an increase in ejection fraction. To determine the relation between serial changes in ventricular dilatation and changes in ejection fraction, we studied 61 patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation by echocardiography and radionuclide angiography before, 6-8 months afte...

A statistical model based on the method of variance components was applied to obtain confidence statements for single and repeat determinations of left ventricular ejection fraction by radionuclide techniques. With this approach variance caused by individual factors in the measurement procedure is estimated to allow calculation of confidence intervals based on single measurements and the detect...

OBJECTIVE To determine long-term survival, identify preoperative factors predictive of a favorable outcome, and assess functional improvement after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS Between 1995 and 2001, 244 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and had a preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction less than o...