The test allows the detection of coronary artery disease (blockages in the arteries of the heart.) The test is also used in patients with known blockages to assess their risk of future cardiac events. The test distinguishes areas of the heart muscle that are irreversibly damaged (replaced by scar tissue) from the parts that are functionally impaired but still alive (stunned/hibernating heart muscle; likely to recover after with stenting or bypass surgery.)
This test is also referred to as a MIBI nuclear stress test. The MIBI test uses a small amount of radioactive material that is taken up by the muscle of your heart. A special 'camera' will take images to examine blood flow to your heart at rest and exercise.
A physician will guide you through your stress test, you will be monitored closely while you’re walking on the treadmill. If you're unable to exercise you may be given a medication called dipyridamole (persantine) to mimic exercise. This will be decided by the attending physician and will be discussed with you prior to commencement of the test.
The MPI test allows your doctor to make well informed decisions about the treatment of your heart.
Remember to bring
- Photo ID
- Alberta Health Care card
- A list of your medications with dosages included.
- Asthmatic Patients: Bring your inhalers and medications.
Preparing for your test
- The test cannot be done if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- If your weight is 440 lbs or more, please call our clinic prior to preparing for your test.
- Do not eat or drink anything 4 hours before the test.
- Do not exercise on the day of the test. This includes jogging, aerobics, long walks, shovelling snow, or climbing stairs.
- Clothing: Please wear comfortable clothes, a short sleeve shirt that buttons up the front, and appropriate footwear to be worn on a treadmill.
- The morning of your stress test appointment: Diabetic Patients: Do not take your diabetic medications, except insulin pump infusions which you may continue. Bring your medications.
72 hrs prior to your stress test appointment: stop taking the following medications:
| Generic | Other Name |
|---|---|
| Stop 72 hours prior | |
| Tadalafil | Cialis |
| Vardenafil | Levitra |
| Sildenafil | Viagra |
48 hrs prior to your stress test appointment: Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, stop taking the following medications:
| Generic | Other Name |
|---|---|
| Stop 48 hours prior | |
| Diltiazem | Cardizem CD®, Tiazac XC®, Apo-Diltiaz, Tera-Diltiazem, Tiadylt ER, Matzim, Dilacor XR, Tiazac Pro, Taztia XT, Dilt-XR, Diltia XT, Cartia XT, Diltzac |
| Acebutolol hydrochloride | Apo-Acebutolol®, Gen-Acebutolol®, Novo-Acebutolol®, Monitan, Rhotral, Sectral, Tera-Acebutolol |
| Atenolol | Apo-Atenolol, Tenormin®, Tenoretic® |
| Bisoprolol fumarate | Monocor®, Apo-Bisoprolol®, Novo-Bisoprolol®, Sandoz-Bisoprolol, Zebeta |
| Carvedilol | Coreg®, Apo-Carvedilol®, RAN-Carvedilil®, ratio-Carvidilol® |
| Metoprolol SR | Lopressor SR® |
| Nadolol | Apo-Nadol® Novo-Nadolol®, ratio-Nadol®, Corgard® |
| Pindolol | Visken®, Apo-Pinolol®, Novo-Pindol®, Nu-Pindol®, PMS-Pindolol |
| Sotalol hydrochloride | Apo-Sotalol®, Gen-Sotalol®, Lin-Sotalol®, Novo-Sotalol, Nu-Sotalol®, PMS-Sotalol®, ratio-Sotaolol®, Rhoxal-Sotalol®, Sotacor®, Rylosol, Betapace, Sorine |
| Timolol meleate | Apo-Timol®, Gen-Timolol®, Novo-Timol®, PMS-Timolol®, ratiom-Timolol®, Rhoxal-Timolol®, Blocadren®, Tim-AK (Eye drops- little systemic absorption) |
| Nebivolol | Bystolic |
24 hrs prior to your stress test appointment: Do not consume any caffeine or caffeine products. This includes such things as: coffee & tea (including decaffeinated), colas and soda soft drinks, energy drinks, hot chocolate, chocolate, Tylenol #1, #2, and #3, wake-up tablets. If you are taking a prescription medication for pain relief, contact your pharmacist to ensure that it does not contain any caffeine. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, stop taking the following medications:
| Generic | Other Name |
|---|---|
| Note: You may use your puffers, i.e. Ventolin/Flovent, etc. | |
| Calcium Channel Blockers (stop 24 hrs prior) | |
| Amlodipine | Norvasc®,Cadvet®,Apo-Amlodipine,PMS-Amlodipi ne,ratio-Amlodipine |
| Clevidipine | Cleviprex |
| Diltiazem | Cardizem CD®, Tiazac XC®, Apo-Diltiaz, Tera-Diltiazem, Tiadylt ER, Matzim, Dilacor XR, Tiazac Pro, Taztia XT, Dilt-XR, Diltia XT, Cartia XT, Diltzac |
| Felodipine | Plendil®, Renedil®, Sandoz-Felodipine |
| Flunarizine | N/A |
| Isradipine | DynaCirc CR, Dynacirc (Pro) |
| Nicardipine | Cardene SR, Cardene |
| Nifedipine | Adalat XL®, Nifediac CC, Nifedical XL, Procardia, Afeditab CR, Adalat CC (Pro), Procardia XL |
| Nimodipine | Nimotop, Nymalize (Pro) |
| Nisoldipine | Sular (Pro) |
| Verapamil | Isoptin SR®, Chronovera®, Novo-Verapamil SR, Calan SR (Pro), Verelan PM, Covera-HS |
| Beta Blockers (stop 24 hrs prior) | |
| Betaxolol | Kerlone, Betoptic S |
| Bisoprolol fumarate | Monocor®, Apo-Bisoprolol®, Novo-Bisoprolol®, Sandoz-Bisoprolol, Zebeta |
| Carvedilol | Coreg®, Apo-Carvedilol®, RAN-Carvedilil®, ratio-Carvidilol® |
| Esmolol hydrochloride | Brevibloc® |
| Labetalol | Trandate®, Normodyne® |
| Levobunolol hydrochloride | Betagan®, Novo-Levobunolol®, PMS-Levobunolol®, ratio-Levobunolol |
| Metoprolol tartrate | Apo-Metoprolol®, Betaloc®, Betaloc Durules®,Gen-Metoprolol®, Lopressor®,, Novo-Metoprolol®, Nu-Metop®, PMS-Metoprolol-B®, PMS-Metoprolol, Toprol XL |
| Oxeprenolol hydrochloride | Trascor®, slow-Trasicor |
| Penbutolol | Levatol |
| Propranolol hydrochloride | Apo-Propraolol®, Inderal-LA®, Nu-Propranolol®, Hemangeol, InnoPran XL |
| Phosphodiesterase | N/A |
| Bronchodilators (stop 24 hrs prior) | |
| Theophylline | Theolair; Apo-Theo; Novo-Theophyl; SR Theolair; Uniphyl; Ratio-Theo-Bronc; Aminophylline; Theodur; TheoSR; Theolair SR; Oxtriphylline; Choledyl-phyllocontin; Quibron-T; Somophyllin; Novo Triphyl; Quibron; Pulmophylline; Slo-Bid; Gyrocaps; Theochron; Respbid |
12 hrs prior to your stress test appointment: Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, stop taking all nitrates
| Generic | Other Name |
|---|---|
| Nitrates | |
| Nitroglycerin | Deponit; Minitran; Nitrok; Nitro-Bid; Notrocine; Nitroderm; Nitro Disc; Nitro-Dur; Nitrogard; Nitroglycerin t/R; Nitroglyn; Nitrol ointment; Nitrolingual spray; Nitrong; Nitro-Par; Nitropress; Nitro SA; Nitrospan; Nitrostat; Nitro-trans system; Nitro-transderma; Nitro-Time; Transiderm-Nitro Tridil, Nitro-Bid, Minitran |
| Isosorbide Mononitrate | Imdur; ISMD; Isosorbide mononitrate; monoket |
| Isosorbide Nitrate | Dilatrate-SR; Iso-Bid; Isordil; Isordil tembids; Isosorbide dinitrate; Isosorbide dinitrate LA; Sorbitrate; Sorbitrate SA |
| Isosorbide Dinitrate/Phenobarbital | Isordil W/PB |
| Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate | Peritrate |
| Erythrityl Tetranitrate | Cardilate |
Should you have any questions about taking your medications for the test, contact your doctor’s office.
At the appointment
The test will be performed by a Physician and a Nuclear Medicine Technologist - a medical professional with specialized training in Nuclear Medicine & Nuclear Cardiology.
When you arrive for your appointment the test will be explained to you and any questions you may have will be answered. A small intravenous (IV) line will be placed into a vein in your arm.
Rest Study
A small amount of radioactive material will be injected into your IV line. This radioactive ‘tracer’ goes to the muscle of your heart according to the amount of cardiac blood flow. After a short wait period, images of your heart will be taken with a special camera. After this rest scan, there will be another wait period of approximately 2 hours after which your stress study will be done.
Stress Study
You will exercise on the treadmill; during this exercise another injection of the radioactive tracer will be injected into your IV line. Your pulse, blood pressure and electrocardiogram will be monitored throughout the test. Once the exercise portion of the test is completed, there will be a short wait period before another scan is done.
Or
If you are unable to exercise on the treadmill, a drug induced exercise will be done. If your doctor recommends the drug induced stress study, you will be given a drug called dipyridamole (persantine) to dilate the blood vessels, mimicking exercise. Shortly after dipyridamole is administered a second injection of the radioactive tracer will be given to you through your IV line. Your pulse, blood pressure and electrocardiogram will be monitored throughout the test.
Once the drug induced stress portion of the test is completed, there will be a short wait period before another (final) scan is done.
After the study
- Your IV will be removed
- Resume your regular activities, diet and medications as directed.
If you have any questions about this test, please contact our clinic at 1 (403) 348-5932.