General

Synonym/Acronym:
Cardiac stress scan, nuclear stress test, sestamibi scan, stress thallium, thallium scan.

Rationale
To assess cardiac blood flow to evaluate for and assist in diagnosing coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction.

Patient Preparation

• Instruct the patient to fast and refrain from consuming caffeinated beverages for 4 hr, refrain from smoking for 4 to 6 hr, and withhold medications for 24 hr before the test. Instruct the patient to avoid taking anticoagulant medication or to reduce dosage as ordered prior to the procedure. Protocols may vary among facilities.

Normal Findings

• Normal wall motion, ejection fraction (55%–70%), coronary blood flow, tissue perfusion, and ventricular size and function. Mitochondria are responsible for generating the energy required for all cellular function; the amount of radionuclide visualization should reflect normal, active cardiac tissue.

Critical Findings and Potential Interventions
N/A