Cardiac Blood Pool Scan

Ejection Fraction Study, Gated Cardiac Scan, MUGA Scan, Radionuclide Angiography, Scan, Cardiac Blood Pool, Wall Motion Study

Results

A cardiac blood pool scan shows how well your heart is pumping blood to the rest of your body.

Complete test results are usually available in 1 to 2 days. The most commonly reported value is the ejection fraction, which is the average amount of blood pumped out of the heart's left ventricle during each contraction.

Cardiac blood pool scan

Normal:	The ejection fraction is 55% to 65%.
	The walls of the ventricles are contracting normally.
	The chambers of the heart are not enlarged.
Abnormal:	The ejection fraction is less than 55%.
	Parts of the heart muscle are not contracting normally.
	A defect, such as an aneurysm, is present in the wall of the heart.
	The heart valves do not close completely, allowing blood to flow in the wrong direction.
	There are openings between the heart chambers, allowing blood to leak between the right and left heart chambers.
	The chambers may be enlarged (cardiomyopathy).

 

Many conditions can affect cardiac blood pool scan results. Your doctor will discuss any significant abnormal results with you in relation to your symptoms and past health.

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: August 21, 2009
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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