Testing - What to Expect

• Arterial Segmental Pressures
• Carotid Ultrasound
• Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram
• Echocardiogram
• Stress Echocardiogram
• Venous Duplex

• ARTERIAL SEGMENTAL PRESSURES INSTRUCTIONS

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  An arterial segmental pressures test is a test for the circulation is your arms or legs. A series of blood pressure cuffs are attached to your arms and legs and measurements are taken of the pressures using sensitive, Dopplermicrophones. To make your test as pleasant an experience as possible, please help us by following these guidelines: Wear a 2-piece outfit (shirt and pants or skirt). Please, ladies, do not wear panty hose for this test. Wear comfortable close-toe shoes such as tennis shoes. We may have you walk on a treadmill if we are testing your legs.

• CAROTID ULTRASOUND INSTRUCTIONS

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  A carotid ultrasound or carotid duplex test is a sonogram of the arteries in your neck. For this test, you will be lying on your back for up to an hour while one of our cardiovascular technologists scans the arteries in both sides of your neck. To make your test as pleasant an experience as possible, please help us by following these guidelines: Do not wear a turtleneck or other high-necked shirt or top. If you have a mobility problem where lying still and/or on your back is an issue, please tell our scheduler or the technologist.

• DOBUTAMINE STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAM INSTRUCTIONS

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  A dobutamine stress echocardiogram is actually two (2) tests combined. A dobutamine stress test is a stress test for those unable to exercise effectively on a treadmill. We attach wires to your chest as if for an EKG and administer a medicine called dobutamine that simulates the heart's reaction to exercise. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound or sonogram of the heart. For this test, you will be asked to lie on your left side for up to 30 minutes while your heart is scanned by one of our cardiovascular technologists. Then, one of our nurses will give you the dobutamine in an IV while we monitor your EKG, blood pressure, and ultrasound images. To make your test as pleasant an experience as possible, please help us by following these guidelines: Please do not eat six (6) hours before your test. Water or juice is ok. Please do not smoke eight (8) hours before your test. Wear a 2-piece outfit (shirt and pants). You will be asked to remove all clothing from your upper body for this test. Do not apply powder, lotion, or deodorant to the chest area. If you have a mobility problem where lying still and/or on your side is an issue, please tell our scheduler or the technologist.

• ECHOCARDIOGRAM INSTRUCTIONS

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  An echocardiogram is an ultrasound or sonogram of the heart. For this test, you will be asked to lie on your left side for up to 45 minutes while your heart is scanned by one of our cardiovascular technologists. To make your test as pleasant an experience as possible, please help us by following these guidelines: Wear a 2-piece outfit (shirt and pants or skirt). You will be asked to remove all clothing from your upper body for this test. Do not apply powder, lotion, or deodorant to the chest area. If you have a mobility problem where lying still and/or on your side is an issue, please tell our scheduler or the technologist.

• STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAM INSTRUCTIONS

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  A stress echocardiogram is actually two (2) tests combined. A stress test is where we attach wires to your chest as if for an EKG and have you exercise on a treadmill until we reach a specified heart rate. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound or sonogram of the heart. For this test, you will be asked to lie on your left side for up to 30 minutes while your heart is scanned by one of our cardiovascular technologists. Then, we will have you exercise on our treadmill under the watchful eyes of one of our nurses or cardiologists. To make your test as pleasant an experience as possible, please help us by following these guidelines: Please do not eat four (4) hours before your test. Water or juice is ok. Please do not smoke six (6) hours before your test. Wear a 2-piece outfit (shirt and pants). You will be asked to remove all clothing from your upper body for this test. Wear comfortable close-toe shoes such as tennis shoes. Sandals, flip-flops, and high-heels are not allowed on the treadmill. Do not apply powder, lotion, or deodorant to the chest area. If you have a mobility problem where lying still and/or on your side is an issue, please tell our scheduler or the technologist. If you have a mobility problem where walking uphill at a brisk pace is an issue, please tell our scheduler. A different type of stress test can then be scheduled.

• VENOUS DUPLEX INSTRUCTIONS

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  A venous duplex or Doppler is an ultrasound or sonogram of the veins in your arms or legs. For this test, you will be lying on your back for up to an hour. To make your test as pleasant an experience as possible, please help us by following these guidelines: Wear a 2-piece outfit (shirt and pants or skirt). Please, ladies, do not wear panty hose for this test if we are testing your leg(s). If you have a mobility problem where lying still and/or on your back is an issue, please tell our scheduler or the technologist.

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