What is Stress Echocardiography?

Stress echocardiography is a test that uses ultrasound imaging to show how well your heart muscle is working to pump blood to your body. It is most often used to detect a decrease in blood flow to the heart from narrowing in the coronary arteries.

Why I have been advised Stress Echocardiography?

Doctor may advise you to undergo Stress Echocardiography to rule out any blockage in blood vessels (most common reason) supplying the heart muscles. Normal Stress Ech0 ( Negative for provokable ischemia) is an indirect sign of no/minimal blockage in blood vessel.Test is also performed in some other heart(Aortic valve stenosis/LV Dysfunction) disease to assess special parameter.

Type of Stress Echocardiography

Stress echo may be performed in two ways:

1.Exercise stress echocardiography

In this test you will be asked to perform treadmill in graded manner. Your doctor will then perform Echocardiography once your heart rate increased to a certain level [85% 0f (220-Age)].

2.Dobutamine Stress echocardiography

Dobutamine Stress echocardiography is advised if you are not fit to do treadmill because of one or other reasons..In this case heart rate is increased in graded manner using intravenous infusion of a drug- Dobutamine and sometime atropine.

Should I take medicine on day of examination?

Remember to carry all medicine with you on the day of test. Certain group of medicines (listed below)need to stop at least 48 hour before the tests, unless your doctor tells you otherwise:

• Beta blockers ( atenolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, Bisoprolol, propranolol etc
• Isosorbide dinitrate
• Isosorbide mononitrate
• Nitroglycerin
• Your heart specialist may also ask you to stop taking other heart medications on the day of your test.
• Also DO NOT take any over-the-counter medication that contains caffeine for 24 hours before the test.
• If you have any questions about your medications, ask your heart specialist.

What should I eat or drink on day of examination?

You make take light breakfast on day of examination. However don’t take any major meal and liquid other than clear water 4 hour before test.

Do I need to come in special dress?

No. You may wear anything. You may be provided with special dress in echo lab itself.

Warning: Do not stop any medicines without consulting your heart specialist.

What does result mean to me?

After completion of test your heart specialist will give you report as: “Positive for provokable ischemia” or “Negative for provokable ischemia”. Positive test means abnormal test (suspicion of blockage in blood vessel supplying blood to heart) and negative test means normal test (Normal blood vessel).

Risk and issues

Exercise stress echo is generally safe if performed under supervision of experienced cardiologist.Other than fatigue you may feel mild chest heaviness, shortness of breath that usually subside in couple of minutes.

During Dobutamine Stress echocardiography you may feel palpitaion, headache or mild chest heaviness.

Safety Level

Both the investigation have good safety data.