This test has three parts and takes approximately 3 hours. 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. These instructions must be followed as certain drugs you might be taking (beta-blockers and caffeine) have an adverse affect on the test results. Taking them will require the test to be rescheduled. An IV (intravenous line) will be started in your arm and the nuclear technologist will 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 takes 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.

Part two starts when the above scan is completed. You will meet your nurse and she will explain the next part of the test and answer any questions you have. 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 dobutamine which increases the force and rate of your heart's contractions. This medication will be given through your IV line for 8-12 minutes at an increasing rate to raise your heart rate. With this medication you may experience the following side effects:

         Rapid heart beat
         Chest pressure
         Dizziness/light headedness
         Mild nausea

When your heart rate has reached a set level, the nuclear medicine technologist will give you another injection of the isotope through the IV line. Once the isotope is injected, the medication will be continued for an additional minute and then stopped. Your EKG and blood pressure will be monitored by the nurse until they return to pre-test levels; usually 15-30 minutes.

After the recovery period you will be disconnected from the EKG machine and you will then have a 30-60 minute break at which time you will relax and eat 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 higher quality pictures.

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.