What is a myocardial perfusion stress and rest test?
A Stress/Rest Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) Study is a type of stress test that uses PET or SPECT imaging of a patient’s heart before and after exercise to determine the effect of physical stress on the flow of blood through the coronary arteries and the heart muscle.
How do I prepare for myocardial perfusion scan?
No food or drink for four hours prior to the test. You may have water. If you are scheduled for a pharmacologic myocardial perfusion scan, you will need to avoid taking any medications containing theophylline or caffeine. Coffee, even decaffeinated, is not allowed, as it contains some caffeine.
What drug is used in a pharmacological stress test?
Adenosine, dipyridamole, and dobutamine are the principal agents used in pharmacologic stress testing. Adenosine and dipyridamole mediate coronary artery vasodilation. Adenosine, a direct agonist, has a rapid onset and short duration of action.
Why would a doctor order a nuclear stress test?
A nuclear stress test is an advanced diagnostic tool for finding the cause of new or worsening chest pain, stratifying risk for heart disease, deciding how well treatment is progressing, and/or evaluating recovery after a heart attack. Most of the stress tests performed by Heart House physicians are done in the office.
What happens if you fail a stress test?
What HAPPENS IF I FAIL THE STRESS TEST? The short answer is, nothing happens. It is fairly common for some people to not be able to exercise enough to get their heart to work hard enough. When this happens, it is impossible for us to accurately assess the patients’ functional capacity.
What is a pharmacologic test?
A pharmacological nuclear stress test is a diagnostic test used to evaluate blood flow to the heart. During the test, a small amount of radioactive tracer is injected into a vein. A special camera, called a gamma camera, detects the radiation released by the tracer to produce computer images of the heart.
Is pharmacologic stress test safe?
[11-20-2013] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning health care professionals of the rare but serious risk of heart attack and death with use of the cardiac nuclear stress test agents Lexiscan (regadenoson) and Adenoscan (adenosine).
When is pharmacologic stress test used?
Pharmacologic stress testing, established after exercise testing, is a diagnostic procedure in which cardiovascular stress induced by pharmacologic agents is demonstrated in patients with decreased functional capacity or in patients who cannot exercise.
Does a nuclear stress test show clogged arteries?
The test can show the size of the heart’s chambers, how well the heart is pumping blood, and whether the heart has any damaged or dead muscle. Nuclear stress tests can also give doctors information about your arteries and whether they might be narrowed or blocked because of coronary artery disease.