Stress echocardiography is an echocardiographic evaluation performed while the heart is under stress from exercise or medication. It has high accuracy in diagnosing coronary artery disease.
What is Stress Echocardiography?#
Stress echocardiography evaluates the presence of ischemia (insufficient blood flow) by comparing wall movements of the heart at rest and under stress.
Advantages of Stress Echocardiography:
- No radiation
- High diagnostic accuracy
- Valve function evaluation
- Real-time imaging
Types of Stress Echocardiography#
Exercise Stress Echocardiography#
- With treadmill or bicycle
- Physiological stress
- Preferred method
Pharmacological Stress Echocardiography#
Dobutamine:
- Increases heart rate and contractility
- For patients who cannot exercise
- Most commonly used medication
Dipyridamole/Adenosine:
- Coronary vasodilator
- Alternative option
Stress Echocardiography Indications#
Diagnostic Indications#
- Suspected coronary artery disease
- Chest pain evaluation
- Abnormal ECG findings
- Inconclusive stress test result
Prognostic Evaluation#
- Known coronary artery disease
- Post-myocardial infarction
- Pre/post-revascularization
- Pre-operative risk assessment
Valve Diseases#
- Aortic stenosis severity
- Mitral stenosis evaluation
- Low-flow aortic stenosis
Pre-Stress Echocardiography Preparation#
General Preparation#
- 4 hours fasting
- Caffeine restriction (24 hours)
- Comfortable clothing
Medication Adjustment#
- Beta blockers (stopped 48 hours before)
- Calcium channel blockers
- Nitrates
How is Stress Echocardiography Performed?#
Procedure Steps#
- Resting imaging: Baseline echocardiography
- Stress application: Exercise or medication
- Peak stress imaging: At maximum stress
- Recovery: Monitoring and imaging
- Comparison: Rest vs stress
Procedure Duration#
Total duration: 45-60 minutes
Stress Echocardiography Results#
Normal Findings#
- Normal wall motion in all segments
- Increased motion with stress
- No ischemia findings
Abnormal Findings#
| Finding | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hypokinesis | Decreased motion |
| Akinesis | No motion |
| Dyskinesis | Paradoxical motion |
| New wall motion abnormality | Ischemia |
Stress Echocardiography Risks#
Risks are low:
- Chest pain
- Arrhythmia
- Blood pressure changes
- Rarely serious complications
Stress Echocardiography vs Other Tests#
| Test | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Stress Echo | No radiation, valve evaluation | Operator dependent |
| Myocardial Scintigraphy | Quantitative | Radiation |
| Exercise Test | Simple, inexpensive | Lower accuracy |
Frequently Asked Questions#
Is stress echocardiography painful?
How long does stress echocardiography take?
Do I need to fast for stress echocardiography?
Can I have stress echocardiography if I cannot exercise?
When do stress echocardiography results come out?
Appointment and Contact#
If you would like to schedule an appointment for stress echocardiography:
📍 Avrasya Hospital - Beştelsiz Mah. 101. Sokak No:107, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul
📞 Phone: +90 212 665 50 50 (Ext: 4012)
This content has been prepared by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Habib Çil for general informational purposes. Please consult a cardiology specialist for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
Related Diagnostic Tests#
Other diagnostic tests related to stress echocardiography:
- Echocardiography - Heart ultrasound
- Exercise Stress Test - Exercise stress test
- Myocardial Perfusion - Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy
- Cardiac CT - Computed tomography
- Coronary Artery Disease - About coronary artery disease