Adenosine Stress Protocols

A treadmill stress test is used to test the function of the heart in order to determine heart abnormalities. A patient will have a heart monitoring machine record his or her heartbeat while he or she walks on a treadmill. Adenosine and dobutamine are injected into the body in order to perform a stress test on patients who are unable to complete a treadmill stress test. Adenosine accelerates the heart, allowing a physician to check for heartbeat abnormalities. A series of protocols are commonly followed when completing an adenosine stress test.

Preparation

• According to the Marquette General Health System, you should not drink any sort of caffeine-containing beverages, including coffee, tea and soda, before you receive an adenosine stress test. You should not drink or eat anything six hours before the test, except for small amounts of water. Patients may not be able to take certain medications before the test, and they should consult with a doctor regarding these medications. Some over-the-counter medications, such as Excedrin, contain caffeine. Wear comfortable clothes, as an adenosine test can take five hours, according to the Marquette General Health System.

Scanning

• When you go to a doctor's office for your adenosine stress test, a cardiologist and nuclear medical technologist will image your heart before the stress test occurs. A nurse will insert an intravenous (IV) line into the arm of a patient, which is used to pass adenosine and the isotope into the body. A radioactive isotope is used in order to create a picture of the heart using a nuclear camera. This process allows a cardiologist to check out your heart at rest and compare this image to your heart after the stress test. The nuclear medical tech will spend about 20 minutes creating an image of your heart, and you will have to wait for the images to be developed.

Stress Test

• During the second part of the test, you will be connected to a heart monitoring (EKG) machine. This machine will track your heartbeat over the duration of the test. A cardiologist will strictly monitor the patient's vital signs while the adenosine stress test is being conducted. You may feel pain or discomfort as your heart rate accelerates, but this will go away after the stress test is over.

Results

• The cardiologist will take the pictures of your heart and the EKG data, and he or she will review this information in order to determine any heart abnormalities. After the test, you may rest for two and a half to three hours, until the doctor allows you to leave. You cannot eat or drink anything after this period. The doctor may take further pictures of your heart after the adenosine has left your system.