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What is a myocardial perfusion scan?
Myocardial
perfusion scan is used to evaluate coronary artery disease which
is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the
heart muscle. Under stress the heart may not receive enough
oxygen at times and this may result in chest pain called angina
or breathlessness. The scan uses a small amount of radioactive
substance (thallium or technitian) which can be used to produce
pictures of your heart. When the radionucliatide is injected
into the blood stream it travels to the heart muscle through
the coronary arteries. The process can be visualized by a special
camera.
How do I prepare for the test?
Do not eat or drink any products
containing caffeine for 12 hours before the test. This includes
coffee, tea, coca cola and chocolate. Do not eat anything for
at least 4 hours before the test. If you are diabetic however
you may take medication for your diabetes and you may eat normally
as you would. You may drink water at any time but you must not
smoke for 3 hours before the test. You should wear comfortable
clothing and low heeled shoes or trainers so that you can walk
on the treadmill.
What will happen during the test?
We will normally ask you to
walk on a treadmill or if you are unable to do so we will give
you a medicine to simulate exercise. Your heart rhythm will
be monitored with an ECG and your blood pressure will be recorded
at several times. The radionucliotide will be injected through
a vein approximately 1 minute before you stop exercising. You
will then be asked to lie flat on a imaging table whilst a special
camera circles slowly around your chest for about 30 minutes.
You will be asked to stay in the department and not to exercise
and 4 hours later the test will be repeated without any exercise.
The data from your test is processed and we would hope to have
preliminary result within less than 24 hours.
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