Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography
What is it for?
An Echocardiogram (ECG) is used to assess the health of a heart. There are a number of reasons why your physician would recommend an ECG, which includes general assessment of heart functions; determination of safe exercise following a heart attack or to evaluate status before heart surgery.
A Stress ECG involves exercise. If a patient is unable to exercise, we will perform a Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram, which uses the medication Dobutamine to initiate stress instead of exercise.
How do I prepare?
Bring or wear comfortable clothing and running/walking shoes. Do not wear oily skin creams or lotions the day of the exam. It will make it hard for sticker to stick.
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What can I expect during the procedure?
Dobutamine is put in a vein causing the heart to beat faster mimicking the effects of exercise on the heart. A transducer (like a microphone) is used to pick up the sound waves produced by your heart. The transducer is placed at various locations across the chest and is fed into a computer.
What can I expect after the procedure?
Patients can go back to their usual diet and activities.
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