Nuclear Cardiac Tests
Instructions for Your Test or Procedure
NOTE: We are pleased to provide standard instructions regarding your test or procedure. Please contact your physician to discuss your individual needs and medical circumstances before you proceed.
Nuclear Medicine Procedures
Cardiac Stress Testing
These include Nuclear Stress Testing, Thallium Stress Test, Exercise Nuclear Stress, Adenosine Stress Test, Persantine Stress Test, Cardiolite Stress Test and Myoview. Stress Test)
Before Your Procedure
Confirm with your physician which medications you should refrain from taking! For example, Beta blockers should be stopped 48 hours prior to test unless otherwise indicated by the patients’ cardiologist.
Patients who are asthmatic and currently using an inhaler should have a Dobutamine Study performed at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.
For Adenosine Stress Test, avoid caffeine for 24 hours prior the procedure,
including: Coke a Cola Classic, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mello Yello,
Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Tremble;
all coffee (roasted, instant, decaffeinated roasted, decaffeinated instant);
hot chocolate (cocoa);
tea; all chocolate (including milk, dark, and Baker’s).
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure.
The Day of Your Procedure
Note: Stress tests start after 9:00 a.m. upon the arrival of the cardiologist.
You may have water the morning of the test if your test is later in the day but
do not eat or drink anything for at least four hours prior to study.
Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
Please wear comfortable clothing as you will be asked to undress from the waist up and wear a patient gown.
An IV line will be placed in your arm you and you will receive the first injection of a radioactive material (thallium).
The first image will start approximately 20 minutes after injection.
Your heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored and an EKG will be conducted during the stress test.
You will either walk on the treadmill or have Adenosine injected into their
vein over 6 minutes.
A second injection of a radioactive material (Tc Sestamibi) will be injected
at the appropriate time.
The second set of images will start approximately 30 minutes following the stress test.
This procedure takes approximately three or four hours.
Infectious Imaging (WBC scan, Infectious Imaging, Labeled Leukocytes, In-111 WBC, Ceretec scan, In-111/Bone Marrow)
The Day Before Your Procedure
Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
Your blood will be drawn and sent out to a lab for processing at 8:00 a.m.
You may leave the ACC, but you must be able to return approximately four
hours later.
At this time, your white blood cells which have been tagged to a radioactive
material will be re-injected.
The Day of Your Procedure
Return the following morning at which time you will be injected with a second radioactive material (to enable the bone marrow to be evaluated for comparison).
Images will begin 10 minutes later.
The approximate imaging time is 45 minutes.
Octreoscan
The Day of Your First Procedure
Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
Following an injection of radioactive material you will be asked to take two Dulcolax tablets and return in four hours for your first set of images, a whole body scan, which will take approximately one hour.
The night before your return take two tablespoons of castor oil and 2 Dulcolax tablets.
The Day of Your Second Procedure
You will be asked to return for a second whole body scan and two sets of SPECT images. This will take approximately three hours.
