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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