Quantitation of right-to-left shunting by double indicator and oxygen techniques.

An improved double indicator technique for quantitating right-to-left shunting has been validated in a canine right-heart bypass shunt model and compared to standard O2 shunt measurements in the same preparation. A bolus of dissolved sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and indocyanine green dye (ICG) is injected into systemic venous return and a single, time-averaged arterial blood sample is collected during the initial circulation of indicators. Because of its low solubility, SF6 is eliminated essentially quantitatively from blood traversing gas-filled alveoli; correction for volatile tracer in arterial blood derived from nonshunt pathways in therefore unnecessary. ICG remains confined to the vascular space and SF6 is not lost in shunt pathways. Ratios of SF6-ICG shunt to directly measured shunt averaged 0.99 +/- 0.27 (SD) in 55 comparisons of shunts ranging from 2 to 25% of cardiac output; differences between actual and measured shunt averaged 0.5 +/- 2.9% of cardiac output. Simultaneously determined ratios of O2 shunt to directly measured shunt averaged 0.98 +/- 0.48 in 34 comparisons; differences between actual and measured shunt were 0.7 +/- 3.4% of cardiac output.