title: [Contrast echocardiography of the left heart by intravenous injection of perfluorochemical emulsion].
abstract: We evaluated a new method of contrast echocardiography of the left heart utilizing the intravenous injection of perfluorochemical emulsion (PFC emulsion: Fluosol-DA 20 W/V%: Green Cross Corp), which was prepared as artificial blood. Observations were made in 18 open-chest dogs. To assess the possibility of detection of mitral valve regurgitation and myocardial perfusion by this method, a small series of experiments were made. Results were as follows: Following the appearance of contrast echoes in the right heart after the injection of PFC emulsion (10 ml) into the inferior vena cava, the left heart contrast echo images were clearly obtained in 16 of the 18 dogs, and they were visible but weak in the remainder 2. The solution of surfactants (Pluronic F-68, yolk phospholipids, and glycerol), which were added to Fluosol-DA, was also used as contrast agent in 6 dogs. The left heart was also opacified by contrast echoes after intravenous injections. However, the density of the left heart contrast echoes appeared lower, as compared with that after the injection of PFC emulsion. When oxygen (95%) was mixed in PFC emulsion or inhaled through the intratracheal tube, the left heart contrast images were slightly enhanced. In 4 of 6 dogs with surgically created mitral valve regurgitation, systolic contrast echoes in the left atrial cavity were detected on the M-mode echograms after the intravenous injection of PFC emulsion (15 ml). These echoes appeared to move across the mitral valve from the left ventricle to the left atrium or away from the mitral valve in the left atrium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007275:Injections, Intravenous
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons