Stress Echo- Fast and reliable stress test!

1.It is the fastest and cost effective way of performing a stress test.

2.The sensitivity (the capacity of the test to become positive when there are actual blockages in the coronary arteries) are comparable to Nuclear Stress Testing (Thallium)

3. Specificity ( the capacity of the test to become negative when there are no blockages in the coronary arteries) is higher as in comparison to Thallium Stress Testing. Due to certain artefacts resulting from breast shadows in women and the diaphragm in men, Thallium stress tests tend to give slightly higher false positive readings.

4.Such false positive readings may result in unnecessary cardiac catheterization procedures. That may in turn results in insertion of stents when you do not actually need them. Remember, stents are not for asymptomatic patients!


5.Stress Echo can be performed in less than an hour.

6. Injection of a radio tracer material is not needed in Stress Echocardiography. ( Please note:The small amount of radio tracer injection used in Nuclear Stress Testing is proven to be safe)

7.Stress Echo combines two tests.
A.Echocardiography which does a very comprehensive evaluation of the pumping capacity of the heart, valves, congenital heart defects, many such things.
B. Treadmill Exercise.

8.For those patients who are unable to exercise, there are protocolling to do the testing with the injection of other agents such as Dobutamine.

9.You can get the results right away.

10.You can drink your coffee and fasting is not an absolute requirement.

More on the indications later.