• NUCLEAR STRESS TEST

 

        A nuclear stress test measures blood flow to your heart muscle both at rest and during stress on the heart. It's performed similarly to a routine exercise stress test, but provides images that can show areas of low blood flow through the heart and areas of damaged heart muscle.

 

• LEXISCAN NUCLEAR STRESS TEST

 

       Approximately half of the people undergoing a cardiac stress test are unable to use a treadmill or a stationary bicycle because of medical conditions. Lexiscan may be used when a person is unable to exercise enough to increase blood flow to their heart during a cardiac nuclear stress test.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE TEST:

       

       A nuclear medicine technologist will place an IV into a vein in your arm or hand and inject a small amount of radioactive tracer.  After the tracer is injected, you will wait before the first set of "resting" images are taken. Then you will be asked to lie very still under the gamma camera with both arms above your head for about 15 to 20 minutes. The camera will record images that show blood flow through your heart at rest.

 

Next, a technician will place electrodes on your chest to monitor your EKG. You will start walking on a treadmill.

At regular intervals, the difficulty of the exercise will increase until you achieve the target heart rate or you develop symptoms. Then, a second dose of radioactive tracer will be injected into the IV. Your heart rate, EKG and blood pressure will be monitored throughout the test. If you are unable to achieve your target heart rate, a medication may be given to simulate exercise.

 

About 10-20 minutes after exercising, you will be asked again to lie very still under the camera with both arms over your head for about 15-20 minutes. The camera will record images that show blood flow through your heart after exercise. These images will be compared to the first set.