A new method of imaging the right ventricle using peripheral vein infusion of xenon 127.

We report the development of a new method for obtaining right ventriculograms using the peripheral intravenous infusion of a new tracer, 127Xe dissolved in saline. This tracer has a half life of 36 days, emits 172 keV and 203 keV photons, and is completely cleared by the lungs during pulmonary transit. The right ventricle can therefore be imaged free from interfering activity in the systemic circulation. The technique was used in 11 normal subjects and the results compared with those obtained using first pass and gated equilibrium blood pool angiography with 99mTc. Excellent images of the right ventricle were obtained and the tricuspid and pulmonary valve planes could be easily identified. This imaging technique has significant advantages over existing methods for the noninvasive assessment of right ventricular function.