A myocardial perfusion scan is a nuclear medicine test. It shows whether blood reaches all parts of the heart muscle well, first at rest and then when the heart works harder.
It is used to find the cause of chest pain, to see whether the heart’s arteries are narrowed, and to follow up on people who have already had a heart attack or a cardiac catheterization.
The radiopharmaceutical is used in a small dose, and your body gets rid of it little by little. That is why there are some simple precautions you should follow at home after the test.
If your order is for the rest scan only, the preparation is different: see myocardial perfusion at rest.
If you are pregnant or think you might be, or if you are breastfeeding, let us know before the test is scheduled. Also read our patient safety recommendations for nuclear medicine.
Your test, step by step
Before
- Fasting
- 6 hours
- Length
- 4 hours
- If you take any of these medicines, the protocol asks you to stop it 48 hours before: aminophylline, metoprolol (Betaloc, Lopresor), carvedilol (Dilatrend), bisoprolol (Concor), propranolol, sotalol, verapamil (Isoptin), amlodipine (Norvasc) or diltiazem. Confirm with your doctor first.
- Avoid dark drinks and chocolate for 48 hours before: tea, coffee and dark sodas such as cola.
- Wear comfortable clothes for exercise: sneakers, sweatpants or shorts.
- Bring copies of previous studies: cardiac catheterizations, echocardiograms, stress tests or Holter.
- Only one companion is allowed.
What to bring
- Doctor's order.
- Authorization for the procedure.
- Copy of your ID.
- If you might be pregnant, a blood pregnancy test (beta hCG).
During
- A small amount of a medicine called a radiopharmaceutical is given through a vein in your arm. It makes it possible to take the pictures.
- After a waiting period, you lie on the table of the gamma camera, which takes pictures of your heart. You need to stay still while it does.
- For the stress part, you walk on a treadmill or, if you can't exercise, you get a medicine that has an effect on your heart similar to exercise. Then more pictures are taken.
- There are waiting times between one stage and the next. Come with plenty of time, and bring something to keep you busy.
After
- If your doctor has limited how much fluid you can have because of a heart or kidney condition, ask how much water you can drink after the test.
- Drink at least 6 glasses of water from the time of the injection until your imaging appointment.
- For 24 hours after the injection, stay away from children under 15 and pregnant women.
- If you are breastfeeding, tell the technologist so you receive protection guidance for your baby.
- Keep drinking fluids after the study to clear the radiopharmaceutical faster.
Questions to ask your doctor
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