Pharmacologic Stress Echocardiogram

Pharmacologic stress echocardiogram is a test that checks how well your heart is working. For this test, you are given a medicine in one of your veins. This medicine will make your heart work harder (increase your blood pressure). It will also make your heart beat faster (increase your heart rate).

The medicine makes your heart work like it does during exercise. The test uses sound waves (ultrasound) and a computer to make pictures (images). The pictures show how well your heart is working.

What happens before the procedure?

• Do not drink or eat anything that has caffeine in it. Stop having caffeine for 24 hours before the test.
• Follow instructions from your doctor about what you cannot eat or drink before the test.
• Ask your doctor about changing or stopping your normal medicines. This is important if you take diabetes medicines or blood thinners. Ask your doctor if you should take your medicines with water before the test.
• If you use an inhaler, bring it to the test.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes.
• Do not use any products that have nicotine or tobacco in them, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your doctor.

What happens during the procedure?

• You will take off the clothes on the top half of your body (from the waist up). You will put on a hospital gown.
• An IV tube will be put into one of your veins.
• Sticky patches will be put on your chest. Wires will be put on the patches.
• A blood pressure cuff will be put on your arm.
• You will be hooked up to a TV screen. Your doctor will watch your heart rate and blood pressure on this screen.
• Your blood pressure and your heartbeat will be checked.
• The first test will be done before the medicine is given to you.
• You will get medicine through your IV tube.
  • A gel will be put on your chest.
  • A wand will be moved over the gel.
  • The computer will take pictures of your heart.
• You will be given more medicine, a little bit at a time.
• Your heart will be checked again. This is the second test.

This procedure may vary among doctors and hospitals.

What happens after the procedure?

• Your heart rate and blood pressure will be watched until the medicine has worn off.
• You may return to your normal diet, activities, and medicines as told by your doctor.

Pharmacologic Stress Echocardiogram, Care After

This sheet gives you information about how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your doctor may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, call your doctor.

Follow these instructions at home:

• You may return to your normal diet and activities.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

• Your skin is red, swollen, or itchy where you had an IV tube in your vein (injection site).
• You keep feeling dizzy or light-headed, and the symptoms get worse.
• You feel like your heartbeat is faster than normal.
• You keep feeling sick to your stomach (nauseous) or you throw up (vomit).
• You feel short of breath.

Get help right away if:

• You have pain or pressure:
  • In your chest.
  • In your jaw or neck.
  • Between your shoulder blades.
  • Spreading down your left arm.
• You pass out (faint).
• You have trouble breathing.