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Stress Echocardiography

A diagnostic imaging method that assesses cardiac function under exercise or pharmacologic stress.

Written by: Saygı Hospital Health Guide Editorial Board
Published:

This content is for general information; please consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment.

References (5)

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What is Stress Echocardiography?

Stress echocardiography is a non-invasive method that compares cardiac function at rest and under stress using ultrasound. Ischemic myocardial segments develop wall motion abnormalities under stress.

Exercise stress echocardiography (bicycle or treadmill) creates physiological stress and is preferred. Dobutamine pharmacologic stress is used in patients unable to exercise.

Sensitivity for coronary artery disease is 80–85% and specificity 84–86%. It is significantly superior to ECG stress testing and provides regional localization of ischemia.

It is also used for hemodynamic assessment of valve disease (low-flow aortic stenosis), myocardial viability testing and preoperative cardiac risk assessment.

Symptoms

Stress echo is a diagnostic test; indications include:
Evaluation of typical or atypical chest pain
Ischemia evaluation in suspected CAD
Myocardial viability in known CAD
Symptom-hemodynamic correlation in valvular disease
Preoperative cardiac risk assessment

Risk Factors

Risk of serious arrhythmia (higher with dobutamine)
Provocation of acute myocardial infarction (rare)
Hypotension and bradycardia with dobutamine stress
Contraindications: acute MI, unstable angina, severe aortic stenosis

When to See a Doctor?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention promptly:

  • When ischemia needs to be evaluated in exertional chest pain
  • Before revascularization decisions in known CAD
  • For hemodynamic evaluation of ambiguous valve disease

Treatment Methods

01
Stress echo is diagnostic; treatment depends on findings
02
Antianginal therapy and coronary angiography when ischemia is detected
03
Revascularization of viable segments
04
Surgical or interventional treatment for severe valvular disease
05
Safe follow-up and risk management with a normal stress echo

Which Department to Visit?

You can visit our Kardiyoloji department for these complaints. Our specialist physicians will create the most suitable treatment plan for you.

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Health Disclaimer: The information on this page is prepared for general informational purposes only. It does not replace medical diagnosis and treatment. Please consult your physician for your complaints. Saygı Hospital does not accept responsibility for actions taken based on the information on this page.