Clinical application and results of the assessment of coronary blood flow by the regional precordial xenon residue detection technique.

Methodological and technical aspects as well as application and results of the precordial Xenon-residue-detection technique are critically reviewed. The results concern mainly normal flow in various regions of the heart esp. in the free wall of the right and left ventricle, poststenotic flow in patients with coronary artery disease in relation to the degree of proximal narrowings as well as wall motion of the corresponding LV segment, bypassgraft flow and flow after drug interventions esp. nitrates, betablockers, the calcium-antagonist Nifedipine and the coronary dilator Dipyridamole. In spite of its serious limitations (high affinity of Xenon for fatty tissue, geometrical problems in the assessment of flow and its relation to anatomy, gas exchange in situations of high flow etc.), the technique is found to be a useful investigatory tool. Due to its technical display and the related high costs routine application is, however, prohibitive.