Detection of Right-to-Left Circulatory Shunts: A New Method Utilizing Injections of Krypton85

Abstract

Right-to-left circulatory shunts were produced in 11 mongrel dogs by anastomosis of the left atrial appendage to the pulmonary artery. When injections of Kr⁸⁵ in solution were made proximal to the shunt the level of radioactivity in arterial blood drawn during the first 20 sec. after injection was always greater than 1400 cts./min. In dogs without shunts, however, similar injections resulted in arterial blood counts of 206/min. or less. The technic thus provides a new method for detection and localization of venoarterial shunts.