Dobutamine Stress Echo
Why
is the doctor performing this test?
 To determine how well the heart is pumping
blood through the coronary arteries.
What
is the test?
A dobutamine stress echo is a non-invasive ultrasound
test which is used to visualize the heart in motion. To view the heart,
your doctor will place a transducer on your chest which emits harmless
sound waves to your heart. These sound waves generate pictures of your
heart in motion and are displayed on an ultrasound machine connected to the
transducer.
Your
doctor will examine the muscle movement of the heart (also called wall
motion) while you are at rest. Then, your doctor will inject a medication
called dobutamine through an IV. This causes your
heart to beat faster, simulating the effects exercise has on your heart.
The doctor will then examine these pictures of your heart and compare them
to the pictures taken while you were at rest.
If
the results of your stress echo show decreased muscle movement (or wall
motion) during stress than while resting, it is an indicator that there
could be plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) in your arteries. The doctor will
determine if any other testing is necessary to ensure that your heart is
functioning properly.
Where
is the test performed?
In
various outpatient centers, such as your cardiologist’s office.
How
long does this test take?
Approximately
30 – 45 minutes:
- Prep: 10 – 15 minutes
- Testing: 15 minutes
Recovery: 10
– 15 minutes
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