This test allows your cardiologist to visualize the function of your heart in conditions of rest and maximum heart rate. In this way, it can indirectly assess the proper supply of perfusion from the coronary arteries to the myocardial tissue.

What is it ;

It is a specialized test that gives us important information about your heart function and mainly detects the reduction of blood flow to the myocardium during maximum heart rate due to possible narrowing of the coronary arteries. This is essentially the diagnosis of coronary heart disease.

Prior to the examination, you should inform your cardiologist about any medication you are taking and any allergies or reactions to other medications. You should not take beta-blockers, verapamil or diltiazem for at least 48 hours before the test. You must not eat for at least two (2) hours before the examination. Water is allowed.

The examinee removes his clothes from the waist up and lies down on the examination bed. At the beginning, electrodes are placed to record an electrocardiogram. Shaving may be needed in some areas for better placement of the electrodes. At the same time, a peripheral line is placed in the hand for the intravenous administration of dobutamine. Dobutamine causes increased myocardial contraction and increases heart rate. Based on the protocol, the administered dose of dobutamine is gradually increased and consequently the heart rate. Blood pressure and electrocardiogram will be monitored throughout the procedure. During the examination, your cardiologist will take various images to assess if any part of the myocardium is not contracting properly. An additional drug, atropine, may need to be given to increase the heart rate. There is a small chance that you may experience palpitation, shortness of breath or even nausea that may be caused by the medicine, which disappears within a few minutes of stopping the medicine. If at any time you experience chest pain and tendency to faint, or if  the doctor records  ECG wave changes  and uncontrolled  increase in blood pressure, the examination will be stopped immediately.

Once the test is completed, you will continue to be monitored until your heart rate returns to normal. The total duration of the examination is about 1 hour.

Where is it used?

• In patients of moderate or high risk for cardiovascular events with underlying diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, renal dysfunction, dyslipidemia who present with suspicious symptoms of coronary heart disease (chest pain, difficulty breathing).
• In patients with known coronary heart disease and previous revascularization surgery who present with new or recurrent suspicious symptoms.
• In patients with known coronary heart disease and a history of myocardial infarction to assess myocardial viability and possible revascularization with invasive angioplasty (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).
• In the context of preoperative examination in patients who due to mobility problems or reduced ability to exercise can not undergo an exercise stress test.
• In patients with newly diagnosed heart failure.
• In patients with non-diagnostic results of other non-invasive functional tests such as exercise stress test or computed tomography coronary angiography.
• In patients with known valvular disease for better assessment of the severity of the lesion.

Please contact us in case you need personalized detailed clarifications. This examination, if required, is carried out in a different place with the appropriate infrastructure.