Things to note before and after myocardial perfusion scintigraphy

Scanning is a method used in conjunction with coronary angiography to determine the status of the blood supply to the heart and the activity of the heart muscle. Patients need to prepare well before and after the scan to get the most accurate test results.

The heart muscle is the organ responsible for pumping blood from the heart into the arteries, from where the arteries carry blood to every organ in the body. The heart muscle needs blood supply, blood is supplied through the coronary artery system. When the coronary arteries are narrowed, the blood supply is not enough to feed the heart muscle. At that time, the heart muscle will respond with symptoms of angina.
Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is a method that uses a small amount of radioactive material to evaluate the blood supply to the heart muscle. This technique is also known as "thallium" or "MIBI" scan. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is usually performed after exercise to assess the myocardial response to exercise.

The hospital will provide specific information to help you prepare for the scan. Because these techniques involve a small amount of radiation, they should not be used by women who are pregnant. Therefore, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should inform your doctor to choose another safer method of diagnosis.
Patients usually do not need much preparation before the scan . However, you may be told not to eat or drink foods containing caffeine before the scan. In some cases, your doctor may advise you not to take certain medications for a few days before the scan. You may also be told to bring your prescription in on the day of the scan for instructions if needed.

After performing the scan, what many patients are concerned about is the effect of radiation on the body. However, myocardial perfusion scan does not usually cause any side effects. Through natural decay, a small amount of radioactive material that remains in the body loses its radioactivity over time. It can also be eliminated from the body through urine or feces during the first few hours or days after the test. After urinating, you need to flush the toilet twice and wash your hands thoroughly.
After performing the scan, you should ensure the safety of those around you by avoiding contact with sensitive objects such as children or pregnant women. Although the amount of radioactive material is very small, these objects also need good protection.

Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy can be done in many different ways. Scans can be performed in the order of rest - exertion, or stress - rest, depending on the hospital.
Stress testing can be done by injecting drugs that increase heart rate. After the injection, a small number of patients react with a sharp sensation in the chest or a very strong heartbeat. These feelings usually disappear quickly after the end of the stress test. The radioactive substance is injected in your arm, when your heart is beating at a specified frequency. Alternatively, instead of injecting drugs, you can choose to ride a bicycle to exert yourself.
During the test, you will have regular ECG monitoring. So electrodes connected to another device will be placed on your chest to show your heart's response to stress testing.
During the scan, you lie on a long table, while the camera records the gamma rays emitted by your body. The computer turns this information into images. You need to stay still during the recording process to avoid blurring the image. The recording time is from 16-30 minutes depending on the scanning device used.
You may have a second scan, usually done the same day, after 24 hours or after a few days. Usually, in this second scan (resting scan), you are screened after the radioactive drug is injected without any exercise or medication to increase your heart rate.

Myocardial perfusion scan is unlikely to cause any complications. In rare cases, exercise or the effects of drugs that increase heart rate can cause an arrhythmia or a heart attack. Medications that increase heart rate can cause wheezing, which is especially common in patients with asthma or other lung conditions.
The term “radioactive” can cause anxiety in many patients. However, the radioactive substances used in scintigraphy are considered safe. They are rapidly excreted in the urine. In general, depending on the amount of radioactive material and the state of health, it can cause some complications as follows:
Small risk of impact on the fetus: Like X-rays, gamma rays are also radioactive, so For pregnant women who are screened, there is a small chance of affecting the fetus. Therefore, you should inform your doctor if you are pregnant or suspect that you are pregnant. Had an allergic reaction to the injected medicine. Drug overdose. This case rarely happens. Vinmec Times City Hospital uses the SPECT/CT Discovery NM/CT 670 Pro system with the most modern 16-sequence CT of the world's leading medical equipment company GE Heathcare (USA), for high quality images, helping to diagnose Early diagnosis of disease requires investigation.
In addition, Vinmec is one of the few hospitals implementing routine myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Experienced, well-trained Vinmec medical staff at home and abroad will provide high quality services and maximum support for customers