During the rest study, a small amount of a radiopharmaceutical called Technetium-99m MIBI will be injected through the IV. Thirty minutes later, imaging of the heart will begin. Imaging will take approximately 30 minutes. It is extremely important for you/your child to hold still to obtain the best quality images. When imaging is complete, the technologist will walk you over to the stress laboratory in the Cardiology Department. This is where the stress study is performed.
During the stress study, a cardiology staff member will place small pads called electrodes on your/your child's chest. This will allow the exercise physiologist to perform an electrocardiogram (EKG) to monitor your child's heart rhythm during exercise. At peak exercise, a nuclear medicine technologist will again inject the radiopharmaceutical through the IV.
It is important that you/your child continue to exercise for an additional minute after the injection. Shortly afterwards you will be asked to return to the nuclear medicine department for your stress test imaging. The imaging takes 30 minutes. Again, it is extremely important for you/your child to hold still to obtain the best quality images. The total time of the study is approximately 3-5 hours.
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