Comparison of digital with conventional ventriculography for quantitative right ventricular studies

To assess the feasibility of quantitative central venous digital angiocardiography, right ventricular spatial orientation, size, and shape were compared with measurements based on conventional angiocardiography, both obtained during routine cardiac catheterization in 21 children with various congenital heart defects. Without systematic error, correlations for end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were excellent, at r=0.986 and 0.969, respectively. Ejection fractions were similarly closely correlated. Premature ventricular contractions were common in conventional angiocardiography and absent in digital angiocardiography. The amount of contrast medium was 36% of that used for conventional angiocardiography. Digital angiocardiography using reduced amounts of contrast medium given through a central venous catheter allows accurate assessment of right ventricular size and function.