What to Expect: PET/CT Stress Testing

man on treadmill during stress test with cardiologist controlling panel

A PET/CT stress test is an advanced diagnostic option for finding the cause of new or worsening chest pain or shortness of breath, determining the risk of heart disease, evaluating how cardiovascular treatment is progressing, and following a patient’s recovery after a heart attack or other major coronary event. Most of our PET scanning and PET stress tests performed by our physicians are done in our Summerlin office.

A PET/CT stress test gives your heart specialist images of blood flow to the heart muscle. To generate these images of your heart, you will receive infusions of a radioactive tracer through an IV. The radioactive tracer has no significant side effects and is not a contrast dye. It does not contain iodine and will not harm your kidneys. PET/CT stress testing is safe and can help your cardiologist diagnose heart disease accurately, allowing for a more comprehensive treatment plan.

We also measure vitals like heart rhythm, heart rate, and blood pressure during this time.

Preparing for Your PET/CT Stress Test

You will receive pre-procedure instructions from our office to prepare for the PET/CT stress test. Do not eat or drink anything caffeinated (including decaf teas or coffees, as they contain some caffeine) for at least 24 hours before the procedure. You may have a light meal 4 hours before your appointment, and all your medication should be taken as usual unless directed by your physician.

During the Procedure

You must arrive for your stress test early, approximately 15-30 minutes before your appointment, to register and help us prep you for your test. Testing begins by placing an IV in your arm, and you will go to the PET/CT scanner suite. We will need to take three sets of images of your heart, which requires about 30 minutes.

The first set of images helps us understand exactly where the heart is in your chest. Yes, it’s true; the heart is not always on the left, and believe it or not, its position may vary from person to person. At this point, we take the second set of images, and radioactive traces are introduced into the body through the IV. This will help us know how blood flows in and out of your heart at rest.

Now is the time for your stress test. We will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and heart rhythm (with an EKG) as we inject you with a medication that opens your blood vessels and increases your heart rate. Feeling short of breath and pressure in the head, chest, or belly is normal. These side effects are short-lived. You will then receive a second dose of tracer after the stress test medication. This second infusion shows blood flow to your heart muscle under stress. This is when we get our last set of images.

Once the stress test is over, we will help you prep to go home, including the possible need for some reversal medication if you continue to feel any effects from the medication utilized during the stress test. After your stress test, we will watch you closely to ensure all is well. You will leave the office having completed your stress test with instructions and a guide on what to look out for. Typically, the images are processed rapidly, and you’ll hear from us within a day or two with the results.

Results and Next Steps

Normal results from a PET/CT stress test are generally very accurate. As such, if your test comes back without major concerns, you can rest assured that your heart is generally in good health. If the test comes back abnormal or inconclusive, we may need to schedule a cardiac catheterization to see if there are any blockages in the arteries that supply the heart with blood. While invasive, cardiac catheterization is very safe and offers us a better idea of the arterial function. Watchful waiting and medication are often the first steps if we find blockages at any point. From there, if the blockage is more severe, a CABG or heart bypass may be necessary.

The Bottom Line

PET/CT stress testing is a safe and easy diagnostic procedure that allows your physician to diagnose coronary artery disease. Please call the office with any questions or concerns about your PET/CT stress test.