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Thursday, August 21, 2008

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ADENOSINE NUCLEAR STRESS TEST Your physician has ordered a cardiac nuclear stress test. This test is performed for many reasons. It is done to identify the cause of chest pain or chest discomfort which can occur with blockages in blood flow to the heart, to monitor heart function in people with known heart disease, and to determine the response to medications or after angioplasty or bypass surgery. The nuclear stress test also involves taking pictures, also known as images, of your heart. A radioactive substance, known as a tracer, is injected into a vein in your arm and travels in the bloodstream to the heart. Areas of the heart receiving adequate blood flow pick up the tracer more completely. Your physician has determined that you would not be able to perform an exercise test, such as walking on a treadmill or pedaling a bicycle well enough to stress your heart adequately. As a result, a pharmacologic or medication stress test must be performed. The drug, Adenosine, is used to stress the heart without exercise. Adenosine is a short-acting medication that has the effect of dilating blood vessels to simulate exercise. Side effects may include facial flushing, tightness in the throat, chest heaviness, headache or shortness of breath, all of which last only a few minutes. When combined with the administration of Adenosine, the pictures can detect areas of the heart that are not receiving enough blood flow. This enables your physician to determine your heart’s response to stress. The results assist the physician in managing your cardiac condition.

What happens during the Adenosine stress test?

Rest Portion

· You will be given an explanation of the test and asked to sign a consent form.

· A registered nuclear medicine technologist inserts an intravenous catheter into your hand or arm.

· A small amount of a radioactive material, called a tracer, is injected through the intravenous catheter.

· You lie flat on a special table under a large scanning camera.

· The camera takes pictures, called images, of your heart from several angles.

Stress Portion

· Electrodes are placed on your chest and connected to an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine, which permits continuous monitoring of your heart rhythm.

· A nurse supervises the stress portion of the test.

· Your blood pressure is checked frequently, and your ECG is continuously monitored.

· Adenosine is administered through the intravenous catheter over a four minute period.

· In addition to receiving the Adenosine, if you are able, you will also perform a very low level of exercise.

· Midway through the infusion of Adenosine a second tracer is injected into the intravenous catheter.

· You may feel a flushed feeling, which is a normal response to the Adenosine.

· Report any symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness.

· When the stress portion is completed, your blood pressure and ECG will be monitored for several more minutes.

· You lie under the camera for a second set of images.

Please allow 2 – 2 ½ hours for the entire test to be completed

When will I know the results of the stress test?

· Final interpretation of the test results is completed by a cardiologist with a specialty in nuclear medicine

· The physician ordering your test and family doctor receive a report within 3 days

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What happens during the Adenosine stress test?

Rest Portion

Stress Portion

Please allow 2 – 2 ½ hours for the entire test to be completed

When will I know the results of the stress test?