Download Cardiolite Stress Test - Mitchell County Regional Health Center

Specialty Clinic
616 North Eighth Street
Osage, IA 50461
www.mcrhc.com
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
CARDIOLITE STRESS TEST
GXT Treadmill and Lexiscan
Your provider has requested that you have a Cardiolite nuclear medication test
examination on ___________________(date) at Mitchell County Regional Health
Center. Please check in at_________a.m. at the Hospital Registration desk, located
near the main entrance at the front of the building. Please allow at least four hours for
completion of the entire test.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO KEEP YOUR NUC MED
APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL 641-732-6106 DURING
BUSINESS HOURS AND 641-732-6000 AFTER BUSINESS
HOURS TO CANCEL. PLEASE INDICATE THIS IS A
NUCLEAR MED TEST. IF STUDY IS NOT CANCELED BY
3:00 A.M. DAY OF STUDY, CHARGES DO OCCUR.
What is it?
A Cardiolite stress test is a way to determine if your heart muscle is getting enough
blood supply. This test can help your doctor determine if you have coronary artery
disease, a condition where blood vessels that give oxygen rich blood to your heart
muscle become narrowed or blocked. It can show areas of the heart muscle that do not
get enough blood supply and areas that have been damaged after a heart attack.
Cardiolite is a nuclear radioactive substance that is injected into your vein. It
involves only a small amount of radiation and poses no greater radiation exposure risk
than routine X-ray exposure. The tracer concentrates in those parts of the heart that
have the best blood flow. It emits signals that can be detected by a special type of
camera.
How is the Cardiolite stress test done?
There are two types of Cardiolite stress tests. One is the exercise stress test and the
other is called the medication stress test. Both tests are done in two phases and
evaluate blood flow to the heart during rest and during stress.
In the exercise stress test, you will exercise by walking on a treadmill with the
exercise being the “stress” for the heart. In the medication stress test, you are given a
medication through your vein that makes your heart mimic exercise. The medication
test will be done if you are unable to exercise at a moderate to high level on the
treadmill. It is done at rest lying on a cart. If you have a pacemaker, a defibrillator, or a
Specialty Clinic
616 North Eighth Street
Osage, IA 50461
www.mcrhc.com
certain heart pattern on your ECG, the medication test will be done while lying on a cart
or sitting in a chair.
How do I prepare for the test?
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Do not eat or drink anything except sips of water for 6 hours before the test
Do not smoke or use chewing tobacco for 12 hours before the test
Do not eat or drink anything with caffeine for 24 hours before the test. This
would include:
No coffee or tea, brewed, instant, iced, or decaffeinated
No cappuccino
 No colas or other soft drinks including those labeled decaffeinated
or “caffeine-free”
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No chocolates, including candies, frosting, cookies, pies, cocoa, and
chocolate milk.
Do not use any medicines (over the counter or prescribed) that contain
caffeine for 24 hours. This may include Anacin, Excedrin, Darvon, Fiorinal,
Cafergot, Ergotamine, Midol, No-Doz, or Vivarin
Do not use theophylline or medication containing theophylline (Quibron, SloPhyllin, or Theo-Dur) for 48 hours before the test unless your doctor says it is
ok.
Do not take Persantine (dipyridamole) or Aggrenox for 48 hours before the
test
Do not take certain medications for heart or blood pressure for 24 hours
before your test unless directed by your physician. This would include Toprol
(metoprolol, lopressor), atenolol (tenormin), betapace (sotalol), coreg
(carvedilol), inderal (propranolol) bystolic (nebivolol), or corgard (nadolol).
These may interfere with the accuracy and effectiveness of the exam. If you
take medications for blood pressure other than those listed, you may be
advised to take them with a sip of water the morning of the test.
Bring a list of all medicines you are taking. Bring your morning medications
with you. You will be allowed to take them after the exercise or medication
portion of the test.
If you are diabetic and are taking insulin, ask your doctor about changing the
amount of insulin you would take or if you should wait to take it after the test.
Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. For women, slacks or shorts
are preferred as you may be asked to put on a hospital gown.
The day of test
After you have registered, the nurse will come and get you and take you to the stress
lab. A brief history will be obtained and the procedure will be explained to you. You will
be asked to sign a consent form for the test. Please read the form carefully and make
sure your questions are answered.
Specialty Clinic
616 North Eighth Street
Osage, IA 50461
www.mcrhc.com
An IV (intravenous) catheter will be placed in your hand or arm. The medication
will be injected into the IV catheter by the nuclear medicine technician. There are no
side effects from this substance. You will have a waiting period of approximately 60
minutes to allow time for the medication to circulate to your heart. You may wait in the
registration area during this time. After your wait time, the rest images will be obtained.
After the rest images are completed, you will return to the stress test room for the
stress portion of the test. Small pads called electrodes will be placed on your chest so
that your heart rate and rhythm can be monitored during the test. We may need to
shave excess hair from the sites where the electrodes will be placed. Your blood
pressure may be checked with you lying, sitting, and standing before the test. The
nurse will also monitor your blood pressure during the test.
Exercise (GXT Treadmill) Stress Test
If you’re doctor has ordered an exercise stress test, you will walk on the treadmill until
your heart rate reaches a certain level. The intensity of exercise is gradually increased.
It is important to exercise as long as you are able to increase the effectiveness of the
test.
Please inform the doctor if you have symptoms of chest discomfort, shortness of
breath, dizziness or feeling faint, or leg cramps. The exercise can be adjusted or
stopped if you feel like you cannot go on. If you are not able to exercise to an intensity
that will increase your heart rate to the desired level, the doctor may stop the exercise
test and change to a medication stress test.
Cardiolite is again injected into the IV catheter once you have reached your
target heart rate. It is important that you continue to walk for an additional minute after
the Cardiolite is injected. Once injected it is carried to the heart by the blood. After
exercise you will be seated and your heart rate/rhythm and blood pressure will be
monitored for approximately 8-10 minutes after you are finished with the exercise.
Medication (LEXISCAN) Stress Test
For the medication stress test, an injection of medication is given into your IV. This
medicine dilates the blood vessels and simulates the effects of exercise. This
medication can cause certain symptoms such as a flushed feeling, chest pressure/pain,
shortness of breath, lightheadedness, abdominal pain, nausea, headache, or
palpitations. These feelings are perfectly normal but you should tell the doctor or nurse
what you are feeling. Because the medication is very short acting these symptoms
should disappear within several minutes after the injection is completed.
Your second injection of Cardiolite is given immediately after the injection of the
medication. After the injection is complete you may rest in a chair or on the cart for 8-10
minutes while your heart and blood pressure are monitored.
Specialty Clinic
616 North Eighth Street
Osage, IA 50461
www.mcrhc.com
After the stress test
After the recovery period, a light snack can be obtained in the cafeteria while waiting for
your next images. Additional images, which will be taken ½ to 1 hour later, will show
which areas of the heart the tracer has reached. Once these images are completed you
will be free to go.
You may resume your usual diet, medications, and activities after the test. The
tracer leaves your body quickly through your urine. Drinking plenty of water will help
flush the tracer out of your body.
If you experience any problems following your procedure please notify your
physician or if after hours you may call the hospital and speak with a nurse.
Results
A cardiologist will review and interpret the pictures obtained through imaging and the
information obtained from the ECG. Your personal physician will be able to review the
results with you at your follow up appointment.
Insurance Information
1. If your insurance requires a pre-authorization, it will be obtained by your ordering
provider prior to the test being scheduled. Medicare does not require a preauthorization. Pre-authorization does not insure that this test is a covered benefit.
2. You are responsible for contacting your insurance company to make sure this test is
a covered benefit and to answer any other questions you may have in regards to
your individual insurance coverage.
3. Please bring your current insurance card to your appointment