Nuclear Stress Test: Cardiac Stress Test Procedure and Preparation

Indications

  • Detection and evaluation of coronary artery disease
  • Determination of myocardial viability vs. scar
  • Detection of myocardial perfusion abnormalities secondary to causes other that coronary artery disease

Cardiac Stress Test Preparation

The patient may not eat for four hours prior to the cardiac stress test.  No smoking for 24 hours prior to the scan. Caffeine may also be restricted during cardiac stress test preparation.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. If a patient is going to walk on the treadmill as part of the cardiac stress test procedure, be sure to wear sneakers or running shoes.

Cardiac Stress Test Procedure

For the resting portion of a cardiac stress test procedure, you receive an injection of thallium, a radioactive tracer. The tracer will circulate for 5-10 minutes and then pictures will be taken of your heart. This nuclear stress test imaging session takes 15 to 30 minutes to complete. This first session shows the resting blood flow to your heart muscle.

For the exercise test, small pads called electrodes are placed on your chest so that an electrocardiogram (EKG) can monitor your heart rhythm while you exercise. An intravenous tube is placed in your arm for tracer administration, which occurs about one minute before the end of the exercise session. The exercise consists of walking on a treadmill. As the exercise continues, it becomes more difficult (similar to walking up a hill).  As the exercise progresses, the heart rate and blood pressure rise. You will be asked to exercise as long as you can.

Pictures of the heart

About 15-45 minutes after the second tracer is injected pictures of your heart are taken.  The imaging session takes 15-30 minutes. This nuclear stress test imaging session shows the stress distribution of blood flow to your heart muscle during peak exercise as well as the wall motion of your heart and the ejection fraction of your heart (the percent of blood the heart pumps out as it beats).

Schedule an appointment with one our Cardiologists at Cardiovascular Consultants PC in Metro Detroit Area. We have three locations for your convince. Call (586) 698-1200