This test has three parts. The three parts will be spread over 2 days.

In the first part of the test, a nuclear technologist will take you to the testing suite and you will be asked if you have followed the pre-test instructions. An IV (intravenous line) will be started in your arm and the nuclear technologist will then inject an isotope so that we can take pictures of your heart. The isotope has no side effects and concentrates in parts of the heart that have the best blood flow. You will be asked to lie down on a special table under a gamma camera to detect the isotope. During imaging, the camera rotates around your body taking pictures of your heart at various angles for about 24 minutes. You must remain STILL while the pictures are being taken. Remaining still is of the utmost importance as it affects the scan critically. This ends part one.

Nuclear Technologist Lisa oversees a patient having a cardiolite scan

Part two will be on another day. You will meet your nurse and she will explain the next part of the test and answer any questions you have. It is important that you follow your pre-test instructions. These instructions must be followed as certain drugs you might be taking (theophylline, beta-blockers and caffeine) have an adverse affect on the test results. Taking them will require the test to be rescheduled. Your blood pressure will be monitored and you will be connected to an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine that will constantly display your heart rhythm and rate. During this part of the test, you will be given a medication called adenosine via the IV in your arm. This medication will cause your heart to work harder and contract with more force but not increase the heart rate much. The medication is given to expand (dilate) the heart's arteries. Healthy or normal arteries dilate more than partially blocked arteries thus allowing more isotope to accumulate in the heart. Some patients experience mild side effects with the medication such as:

         Feeling a little "light-headed"
         Feeling flushed in the face and chest
         Feeling pressure in your throat or chest.

When the medication has taken effect, after 2 minutes, a small amount of isotope is again injected and the medication is continued for 2 more minutes. Once the medication has been stopped, the side effects will disappear within 1 minute. It is important to remember that if you have side effects this does not mean you have heart disease.

After the medication has been stopped, there is a short recovery period and then an approximate 30-40 minute break at which time you will relax and have the snack you brought. It is important to eat a snack at this time as it helps flush the isotope through the gastrointestinal tract, allowing us to obtain better images.

Part three starts after your snack. You will be escorted back to the scan room for the second scan. Remember to remain very still during the scan as this affects the results. This scan also takes approximately 24 minutes. After this scan is done the test will be complete.