Nuclear Stress Test Instructions

CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THIS TEST. YOUR INSTRUCTIONS MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY TO FIT YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS. THE INFORMATION BELOW IS A GENERAL GUIDELINE.

When To Come
On the morning of your stress test, you will need to arrive
in the office 15 minutes before your appointment time
(For new patients ONLY).
Once you are scheduled for a nuclear stress test, it is very
important that you keep your appointment. You must give
the office at least 24 hours notice of a cancellation. You
may cancel your appointment by calling the office,
Mon-Fri: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

What Will Happen
An I.V. will be started in your arm, and you will be
injected with a radioactive tracer called Thallium 201.
After being injected with Thallium 201 there will be a
waiting period.
You will then be placed on a camera table, and a resting
scan will be done of your heart. This takes approximately
20 minutes.
After the rest scan, you will be hooked up to the EKG
machine and will walk on the treadmill, until you reach
your target heart rate; at that time you will be injected with
Technetium99m Tetrofosmin (Myoview) and will walk
approximately 90 seconds more. If you cannot walk on
the treadmill, you will be having a pharmacological stress
test. This is done by giving an injection of Adenosine or
Dobutamine. If you have asthma, please read the
additional information towards the bottom of this
page.
After the treadmill is done, you will again be placed on the
camera table and a stress scan will be done of your heart.
This will last for about 20 minutes.
If a pharmacological stress test is being done, you will go out and eat a fatty meal for about 1hour after the adenosine/dobutamine infusion. You will then come back and be placed on the camera table for approximately 20 minutes for your stress scan.

What To Wear
Wear comfortable tennis shoes and clothing (i.e. sweat
suit, tennis shoes), as you will be walking on the treadmill.
You may wish to wear a two-piece outfit.
If you are scheduled to have a pharmacological stress test
(Adenosine or Dobutamine) you may or may not walk on
the treadmill, but you should still wear comfortable shoes
and clothing.

Your Medication(s)
Do not take any of the medications below, the
morning of your test. (A list of your medications will be
helpful).
You MAY take all your medications not listed on this
list for (ie.blood pressure, anti-inflammatory, hormones,
cholestrol, etc.)
If you are DIABETIC, HYPOGLYCEMIC, or if you
have ASTHMA, PLEASE READ ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS
PAGE.

Please review the list of medications below. If you are taking any of these medications, please leave these off the DAY before and the morning of your test. Also known as BETA-BLOCKERS.
Corgard .......... (Nadolol)
Inderal ........... (Propranolol)
Tenormin ........ (Atenolol)
Visken ............ (Pindolol)
Sectral ......... (Acebutolol)
Lopressor ............ (Metoprolol Tartarate)
Lasix .......... (Furosemide)
Persantine ...... (Dipyridamole)
Trandate ........ (Labetalol)
Demadex ....... (Torsemide)
Blocadren .............. (Timolol)
Corzide
lnderide
Timolide
Toprol
Tenoretic
Betapace

IF YOUR SCAN IS SCHEDULED BEFORE 12:00 NOON, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

What To Eat/Not Eat:
Absolutely No Caffeine 24 hours prior to your study: This
means no coffee, tea, or decaf coffee (this still contains
caffeine) OR any type of can refreshments. (Coke,
Dr.Pepper etc.). Caffeine may alter your scan results,
therefore making them unreliable.
No food after 12:00 midnight the night before the test.
(You can have water)
No smoking 8 hours prior to your test.
If you are walking on a treadmill, the test will take
approximately 2-2 1/2 hours to complete.
If you are having the pharmacological test (Adenosine/
Dobutamine), the test will take approximately 3-4 hours.

IF YOUR SCAN IS SCHEDULED AT 1:00 P.M. OR LATER, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

What To Eat/Not Eat:
Absolutely No Caffeine 24 hours prior to your study: This
means no coffee, tea, or decaf coffee (this still contains
caffeine) OR any type of can refreslunents. (Coke,
Dr.Pepper etc.). Caffeine may alter your scan results,
therefore making them unreliable.
You may have a light breakfast before 8:00 a.m. A light
breakfast means NO MEAT OR EGGS. You may have
fruit, juices, or dry toast. Please limit your intake to a small
quantity. After 8:00 a.m. you may only have water. It is
very important that you do not eat after 8:00 a.m.

AFTER YOUR NUCLEAR STUDY:

We would recommend that you stay approximately two arm lengths away from newbom children and pregnant woman if possible.

This precaution is mainly for newborn infants and pregnant woman. Contact with adults is safe and should not be a concern. (You can sleep in the same bed with your wife/husband)
The amount of radiation exposure is extremely small, much
lower than a routine chest x-ray.
You will receive a call regarding the results of this test
within a week from a nurse. Your referring physician will
also receive the results of this test.

VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE:

IF YOU ARE DIABETIC:
If you take glucotrol, glucophage or any other diabetic
medicines DON'T take them the morning of the test.
If you take Insulin, please bring it with you to the office.
You will be able to take your medication as soon as the
stress test portion of the procedure is complete.
(Approximately 1hour after the resting scan.) You will also
be able to eat after the treadmill if necessary.

IF YOU ARE HYPOGLYCEMIC:
Follow the instructions in this packet, but bring a piece of
candy or something else to raise your glucose level if
needed.
If you have ever skipped breakfast for another procedure
follow the same tactic as before.

IF YOU HAVE ASTHMA:
Please bring you inhaler with you to the office.

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