Time required:
1-1.5 hours

Purpose:
Ventilation and perfusion lung scans are used primarily for the detection of pulmonary emboli. When a blood clot blocks a pulmonary artery, blood flow to the lung ceases and a "perfusion defect" results.

Preparation:
No special preparation is needed prior to the test, but we do require that you bring a recent chest xray with you on the day of your exam.

Test Procedure:
During the first part of the study, a clip will be placed on your nose and you'll be asked to breathe through your mouth into a tubing.
During the second part of the test, a small amount of an isotope will be injected into your vein and a series of pictures of the lungs will be taken.