The role of nuclear medicine in three permanent total artificial heart recipients.

A total of 13 nuclear medicine studies were performed on three permanent total artificial heart (TAH) recipients at Humana Hospital-Audubon. Preoperative radionuclide studies were performed to evaluate left ventricular function for all three patients. Contrast studies were contraindicated because of impaired renal function. Two of the patients had renograms to assess renal function. The two patients who had strokes received 111In Oxine-labeled platelet scans to determine the presence of thrombi in the atria or TAH. No thrombi were evidenced. At autopsy, several septic thrombi were found, none of which contained a detectable amount of platelets.