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If you are unable to exercise, your doctor may combine the nuclear imaging material with a medication called Lexiscan, which increases blood flow in your coronary arteries. Healthy arteries respond more than diseased arteries to Lexiscan, allowing the scan to show the areas of your heart that are supplied by healthy arteries and those that may be blocked or narrowed. The test is done in two parts, resting and stress (exercise).
After the injection, the nuclear imaging material travels through the bloodstream to the heart. The nuclear imaging material gives off a small amount of radiation that can be seen with a special camera. Diseased areas of the heart (because of blocked or narrowed arteries) will not pick up as much nuclear material as those with healthy arteries, allowing your cardiologist to analyze images to find areas of decreased blood flow, called defects.
The test is done in two parts, resting and stress (exercise). After the technician injects the nuclear imaging material through an IV line in your arm and you will rest comfortably during this time as the material takes 30 minutes to circulate through your bloodstream. After the circulation time, the technician completes the first scan, which takes about 15 minutes.
Next, the technician injects Lexiscan through the IV line and you will either walk slowly on a treadmill (if you are able) or rest on a bed or chair. The technician injects more nuclear imaging material and you will rest comfortably as it takes another 30 minutes to circulate through your bloodstream. After the circulation time, the technician completes the second scan in another 15 minutes.
During both scans, a camera rotates around your chest while you lie still. These two scans help your doctor determine if any defects are temporary or permanent because of earlier heart damage.
Talk with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have, but here are a few things to keep in mind.
Your test results will be available in about two to three days and you should talk with your doctor about the results and what they mean.
After the injection, the nuclear imaging material travels through the bloodstream to the heart. The nuclear imaging material gives off a small amount of radiation that can be seen with a special camera. Diseased areas of the heart (because of blocked or narrowed arteries) will not pick up as much nuclear material as those with healthy arteries, allowing your cardiologist to analyze images to find areas of decreased blood flow, called defects.
The test is done in two parts, resting and stress (exercise). After the technician injects the nuclear imaging material through an IV line in your arm and you will rest comfortably during this time as the material takes 30 minutes to circulate through your bloodstream. After the circulation time, the technician completes the first scan, which takes about 15 minutes.
Next, the technician injects Lexiscan through the IV line and you will either walk slowly on a treadmill (if you are able) or rest on a bed or chair. The technician injects more nuclear imaging material and you will rest comfortably as it takes another 30 minutes to circulate through your bloodstream. After the circulation time, the technician completes the second scan in another 15 minutes.
During both scans, a camera rotates around your chest while you lie still. These two scans help your doctor determine if any defects are temporary or permanent because of earlier heart damage.
Talk with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have, but here are a few things to keep in mind.
Your test results will be available in about two to three days and you should talk with your doctor about the results and what they mean.