Heart Failure Support Group

Heart failure is a condition that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to fill with or pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body. It is often undiagnosed due to a lack of a universally agreed definition and difficulties in diagnosis, particularly when the condition is considered "mild."

508 Members

968 Posts

0 Online

sb57 03/16/2009

What is a MUGA? My mom is going to have one Friday. After her heart cath today, they said her EF is 35% not 20%. This is too much of a descripancy. So, they are doing this MUGA. I didn't have one of these tests and do not know what it involves. Please fill me in if you know.
Thanks, Shelly

deleted_user 03/17/2009

I don't know about MUGA never have heard of it.
35% EF is good, I think, That is where mine is now. I hope it is good.

deleted_user 03/17/2009

hi shelly..i am keeping good thoughts for your mom too...i had muga scans when i was undergoing chemo..its a very detailed scan to determine heart function. ..i had to go in and have some blood removed..little vial..then wait a bit while the blood was treated with something..(mind is the first to go..lol) and had to go back in to the nuclear med room to get some leads put on and get ready to go into a scan machine..then they inserted the treated blood and took pictures...it gives a very detailed picture of the heart function..more clearly than an echo...thats why they use it for many diagnoses when they think there will be heart function disruption...i do remember that it really didnt cause much pain..just some discomfort from iv..but my veins were weak from chemo then...so that was probly why..keep us posted..hang in there..

deleted_user 03/17/2009

A MUGA is a nuclear medicine scan. They inject you with some radioactive stuff and it binds to red blood cells and shows a very detailed picture of your heart. I have heard that it is gives the docs the most accurate EF available. It is also more consistent than an echo which can vary a fair amount between tests even day to day.. Good luck. The test is not bad, but you do have to lay down for a while.. jill

sb57 03/17/2009

Thanks you guys. I was able to let my mom know what to expect. I am glad she will get a more accurate diagnosis.

deleted_user 03/18/2009

they wouldn't inject ME with radioactive shit...

sounds killer....

deleted_user 03/19/2009

I am scheduled for a MUGA in May...The answers you received are very accurate. My doc feels that since I have a LBBB that a MUGA will give him an EXACT EF function. So that explains why they are doing it for your Mom.. to much variation between the Echo and the Cath... Although, I would say the Cath is the accurate # not the Echo.... Thinking of you!!!

sb57 03/20/2009

Thanks you guys. My mom had the scan. She said it was fine. She will call Monday to find out the results. I hope the the heart cath was the more accurate reading. Iguess we will find out in a couple of days. I appreciate those of you who were able to explain what to expect. This helped her a lot to prepare.

Join the Conversation