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Exercise Cardiac Perfusion Study

Day of the Test
Upon arrival at the hospital, check in at the Nuclear Medicine reception desk (Galter Pavilion, 201 East Huron, Suite 8-148) 15 minutes before your scheduled time. Parking is available.

Be sure to bring:

  • Your doctor's written order for the test
  • Insurance card
  • Medicare Card ( Medicare patients)

During the Test
You will be asked questions about your medical history, and you will be given a hospital consent form to read and sign.

  • You will receive an intravenous (IV) injection of the first radioactive tracer, thallium. The thallium needs to circulate for 15 to 30 minutes before the first set of heart pictures is taken.
  • You will lie on your back under the camera for pictures to be taken. It is important that you do not move. The scan takes about 20 minutes.
  • You will then be prepared for the exercise portion of your test. After putting on a hospital gown, the skin on your chest will be prepared for electrode placement. The electrodes measure the electrical activity of your heart.
  • An IV line will be placed in your arm for the injection of the second radioactive tracer.
  • You will walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle. This exercise will begin slowly, at a low level, and increase every three minutes to higher levels of exertion. During the test, the doctor or exercise physiologist will frequently check your blood pressure, heart rate and electrocardiogram (ECG). Tell the doctor or exercise physiologist if you feel dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath or chest pain.
  • You and the doctor or exercise physiologist will decide when to end the exercise test. It is important that you provide at least one minute of warning before you need to stop exercising. This will be your level of peak exercise.
  • At the level of peak exercise, the second radioactive tracer will be injected through your IV. You will continue exercising for one or more minutes to cool down.
  • After cool down, you will sit or lie down for several minutes.

After the stress portion of your test, the radioactive tracer needs to circulate for about 30 minutes before your second set of pictures is taken. Again, it is important that you do not move while these pictures are being taken.

Contact
Nuclear Cardiology
(312) 926-8662
Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Test Guide

Exercise Cardiac Perfusion Study
Before the test
Day of the test
After of the test

 

Review Date: 11/04