A Sestamibi/Myoview stress test determines whether your heart is receiving enough blood from your coronary arteries. That is, if you have any significant blockages in the vessels that supply your heart with blood.

We call this a stress test because we put your heart under stress by increasing its workload (your pulse and blood pressure) and, thus, increasing its demand for oxygen rich blood. What this means is that although your heart may function well under normal conditions, it is this extra load and demand that allows us to see any abnormalities.

A number of heart and blood pressure tablets may interfere with the accuracy of the test (eg. Betaloc, tenormin, Inderal, Cardizem, Adalat, Theodur, Nuelin). Usually these tablets are stopped 24 - 48 hours prior to the test, but please ask your doctor if this is permissible and which tablets are to be stopped. Sometimes your doctor will ask you to continue all your medications for the test to determine how well they are working.

  Please stop Persantin (Asasantin) for 24 hours prior to the test.

Remember NO Caffeine for 24 Hours prior to the Myocardial Perfusion Scan.

If you are having the test using the medication with minimal exercise, you may continue all your heart and blood pressure medication.

On the morning of the test have a light breakfast, such as toast and/or cereal and juice. DO NOT HAVE ANY TEA, COFFEE or anything containing Caffeine.

Please bring comfortable clothing suitable for riding or sitting on the exercise bicycle: e.g. shorts or track-pants/trousers and, for women, a blouse that buttons up at the front without metal buttons.

Check List

1. Please bring all of your medications with you.

2. Ask permission from your doctor before stopping any medication (Click here for a list of medications) for the test.

3. If you are asthmatic, please bring your inhaler with you.

4. Stop Tea, Coffee, Chocolate and other foods containing caffeine 24 hours before the Stress test (even Pepsi Max and Herbal Teas contain Caffeine)

5. Wear comfortable clothing (suitable for exercising on a stress bike) for your stress test.

Note: If you are booked for a "Persantin" (Dipyridamole) Stress test (i.e. if you cannot exercise or if it is indicated) you DO NOT need to stop your heart and blood pressure tablets.

ONE DAY: Please allow a total of 3-5 hours for the test. The first part takes approximately 1 hour and, after a short break, the second part will take up to 2 hours. You are required to stay at the surgery during this break as you will have a cannula (a flexible plastic needle) in-situ (i.e. in an arm vein).

TWO DAY—1.5 hrs each day.

You will be given a small injection of Sestamibi into a vein in your arm and after a short time (15 to 45mins) you will be asked to lie on a scanning bed and pictures of your heart will be taken. It is very important that you lie still for 30-40 minutes while these pictures are being collected. There are no side effects from the injection.

The Stress Test:

While sitting on the bicycle, you are connected to an E.C.G. machine and blood pressure monitor.

You begin pedalling at a constant speed and every 2 - 3 minutes it is made a little more difficult than before. It is extremely important that you keep the doctor or nurse informed of how you are feeling, especially if experience any chest discomfort or shortness of breath during the exercise test.

If for any reason you cannot exercise, the test can be done using a medication to simulate exercise. This medication is called Dipyridamole and is given as an injection. Most people have no side effects from this medication, but some experience a slight headache, flushing and sometimes angina. You may be asked to pedal the bicycle gently for a few minutes as this helps minimise the side effects. Also, the doctor may inject another drug through the cannula which which help to ease the symptoms. This combined with coffee or tea after the stress test usually overcomes any discomfort.

1 to 2 minutes before you finish exercising, or after the medication, the doctor will give another injection of Sestamibi (the radioactive tracer) through the needle in your arm. It is the same injection that you were given in the morning and has no side effects.

When you are disconnected from the monitoring equipment there may be a short break before the scan pictures are started. During this short break you are able to have a cup of tea or coffee.

The scan pictures are then repeated. The Tracer will identify any part of your heart that is not receiving enough blood, that is, any significant blockages in the blood vessels that supply your heart.

A full report will be completed and sent to your doctor the following day. If you have any questions, especially regarding your medications, please ask your referring doctor or contact your nearest Southern Nuclear Imaging site before your appointment.