Stress echo and Contrast imaging Asynchronous Flashcards
What is a stress echo?
Combines echo + ECG with peak/post exercise to detect changes in the heart under stress
What is the primary use of stress echo?2
- Assessment of cardiac perfusion
- Increased workload unmasks ischemia (may be silent at rest)
What do we find with stress echo in terms of assessment of cardiac perfusion?2
- CAD symptoms
- Known CAD
What are some other uses (non-primary) uses for stress echo?3
- Viability of the myocardial muscle tissue after MI
- Valvular studies
- Assessment of cardiac transplants
What kind of valvular studies can we do with stress echo?2
- Low flow, low gradient AS
- Valve disease - asymptomatic, but mod
What are some contraindications for stress echo?3
- Acute problems
- Severe heart problems
- Severe systemic problems
What are some acute problems that are contraindications for stress echo?3
- MI
- PE
- Infection (pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis, systemic infection)
What are some severe heart problems that are contraindications for stress echo?4
- Unstable angina/ arrhythmias
- AS
- Dissection
- HF
What are some severe systemic problems that are contraindications for stress echo?4
- DVT
- Syncope
- Seizures
- Pregnancy
What happens in a stress echo?
- Prep the patient
- Take resting heart info
- Stress the patient
- Take stressed heart info
- Monitor patient recovery
What is the bruce protocol?
Every 3 minutes 2% grade and speed increase
What are clinical reasons to stop a stress echo?2
- ECG criteria
- S/S
What are ECG criteria for stopping a stress test?3
- Severe ST segment depression (>2mm)
- New onset of V-tachycardia, Afib, SVT, LBBB, 2nd or 3rd heart block
- Cardiac arrest
What are signs and symptoms that are clinical S/S for stopping a stress echo?3
- Severe fatigue, chest pain, dyspnea, dizziness
- Systolic pressure drops >20mmHg
- Blood pressure increases 200/120 mmhg
What is the treadmill test protocols? 3
- Resting images taken
- Pt runs on treadmill until target HR
- Quick return to scan bed and images take immediately
What is the bicycle stress echo protocol?
Pt. on supine exercise bike, this allows for image at THR
What is the pharmacological Stress test?
Use dobutamine (+/- atrophine) given to provoke ischemia
What is the benefit of pharamacological stress test?2
- Pt can be in optima position
- Good for patients unable to exercise