Nuclear Medicine
Dobutamine Stress Test

For patients who are unable to exercise adequately on the treadmill, the drug Dobutamine may be given to produce an effect on the heart similar to exercise. During the test, you will be lying on the stretcher. A line of normal saline will be connected to your IV. The drug Dobutamine will be infused through your IV by a nurse. The Dobutamine dosage you will be given is based on your body weight. Dobutamine is infused slowly through your IV with the dose being increased every 3 minutes. The Dobutamine infusion is turned off after it is infused for 12 minutes. The Dobutamine may be turned off early if:

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• You exceed a “target” heart rate based on your age
• The cardiologist or cardio tech/nurse detects abnormal changes on your EKG
• You experience significant symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, chest tightness, dizziness, etc. that do not permit you to exercise any longer
• Your blood pressure goes up too high

The Dobutamine is infused longer than the 12 minutes if your heart rate has not reached the predicted “target” heart rate. Sometimes the cardiologist will have the nurse give you a drug called Atropine through your IV if your heart rate has not sufficiently increased. You will be given one more injection of the radioactive tracer once your heart rate is at or has exceeded your “target” heart rate. If your heart rate is taking a long time to slow back down the cardiologist may have the nurse give you a drug called Lopressor through your IV to help.

After this portion of the test is completed you will be asked to wait 30 – 90 minutes for the tracer to circulate and then another set of pictures will be taken.

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