Dayton, OH 45409
Phone: 937-223-4461
Fax: 937-449-7603
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122 Wyoming St Dayton, OH 45409 Phone: 937-223-4461 Fax: 937-449-7603 |
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Upon arrival at the office you will be asked to fill out the appropriate insurance information for proper billing of your test. The nuclear medicine technologist will then escort you to the nuclear imaging area and confirm you have not had caffeine for the past 24 hours. He will then place an IV catheter in either a hand or arm vein. The technologist will inject a small amount of a radioactive isotope, Cardiolite, into the IV to assess the heart's blood flow at rest. There are no side effects from this drug, which gives you a small radiation dose less than that of an x-ray of your chest. The Cardiolite must circulate for 30-45 minutes prior to any imaging of the heart. During this time you will be instructed to drink 18-24 ounces of cold water which aids in the distribution of the drug throughout your body. There is a separate waiting room for patients undergoing the nuclear stress testing so you will have access to a water cooler, a variety of magazines and a television. After this waiting period has elapsed the technologist will position you on an imaging table for the resting scan of your heart. You will be lying down on your back with both arms resting in supports designed to help hold them above your head. The actual scan takes about 15 minutes, after which you will be prepared for the stress test. A nurse will place a series of 12 EKG patches on your chest and attach them to an EKG monitor so that we may monitor your heart's electrical activity. We will also take various blood pressure readings at regular intervals throughout the exam. The nurse will then connect tubing to your IV line so that we may give you a measured dose of Adenosine. Adenosine is a drug that dilates, or relaxes, the blood vessels to simulate peak exercise of your heart. The side effects from Adenosine may include shortness of breath, chest tightness, change in heart rate, headache, and dizziness. The side effects go away immediately after the nurse disconnects the medicine from your IV and do not affect you all day as some medicines may have in the past. If you are able, the nurse will then ask you to walk slowly for 6 minutes, on a treadmill with no incline or increase in speed, to aid in circulation of the medicine. This walk is comparable to pushing a grocery cart through the store. You may choose not to walk on the treadmill; it will not affect your results but will increase your exam by 30 minutes. At this point you will need to wait an additional 30 minutes, or 1 hour to allow the 2nd dose of Cardiolite to circulate. During this time you will need to eat a fatty snack, such as peanut butter, or a ham and cheese sandwich. A carbonated beverage may help improve the quality of your pictures, and should be consumed during this time also. (A drink with caffeine after the Adenosine infusion is fine; you may drink anything you wish after the Adenosine procedure, or during this waiting period.) We will then acquire your stress images, which will again take about 15 minutes to scan. At the completion of this image your test is finished and you are free to go. There are no lasting side effects from the testing and you may drive yourself home from the office. The whole procedure takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete and your results will be available for review about 3 to 4 days following the date of the test. Any questions may be directed to the nuclear medicine technologist at the office, who may be reached by calling (937) 223-4461 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. |
Physicians and Mid-Level Providers
Thomas G. Thornton, MD, FACC |
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