Left Ventricular Opacification and Hemodynamic Effect of Intravenous Injection of Fluorocarbon Based Echocardiographic Contrast Agent

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular contrast echocardiography has been used to evaluate congenital cardiac anomaly, valvular regurgitation, left ventricular wall motion and myocardial perfusion. The contrast agent capable of crossing the pulmonary capillary must be small, stable and echoreflective. METHODS: To make a transpulmonary contrast agent, a mixture of 8 mL of fluorocarbon (C3F8) gas, 5% human serum albumin and 5% dextrose solution was sonicated for 80 seconds. We measured the microbubble size and number of the contrast agent by Coulter counter and hemocytometer. We injected the contrast agent intravenously into the 8 mongrel dogs with systemic arterial blood pressure and heart rate monitoring. The dosage of the contrast agent was various from 0.01 mL/Kg to 0.1 mL/Kg. Echocardiographic examination was done while the contrast agent was injected. Arterial blood gas analysis was done repeatedly before and after contrast agent injection. RESULTS: The microbubble size of the contrast agent was 60.8+/-9.3 fL, and its number was 1.0 x 10 8 /mL. Left ventricular opacification was observed in all cases by intravenous injection of the contrast agent. The minimal dose for the complete opacification of the left ventricle by visual estimation was 0.05 mL/Kg. Hemodynamic variables did not change between pre and post injection of the contrast agent. CONCLUSION: Fluorocarbon based contrast agent could be used intravenously to opacify the left ventricle and it causes no hemodynamic chage in mongrel dogs.