Persantine® stimulation mimics the effects of treadmill exercise, and the goal is to evaluate myocardial perfusion, or blood supply to the heart muscle, under the effect of this medication and at rest to evaluate the heart's pumping ability. The goal is to evaluate the impact of arterial blockages on the heart.
This exam takes place over 2 days: plan for 2 hours on both days.
- Be in a fasting state at least 4 hours before the exam (on both days). Water may be consumed at all times. Diabetics may eat a light meal.
- Stop consuming products that contain caffeine 24 hours before the exam. Caffeine is found in soft drinks (cola), energy drinks, coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, iced tea, chocolate, chocolate milk and acetaminophen (Tylenol® Ultra Tough on Headache).
- Have an updated list of your medications on hand when you make the appointment and when you come in for the exam.
- Take your medication as per usual (unless advised otherwise). If you are taking Uniphyl®, aminophylline or a medication that contains theophylline, you must inform the team when scheduling an appointment.
- Inform the care team if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are currently breastfeeding.
- Bring some money for MHI cafeteria services or bring a light snack (ideally with a milk product, e.g., cheese, yogurt or milk) to eat on both days after the injection of the radioactive tracer (a substance that optimizes the scan images).
Persantine® myocardial perfusion scan
First, the nuclear medicine technologist places the electrodes and inserts a catheter in an arm vein. The catheter is used to inject Persantine® and the radioactive tracer. The patient is then led to a room where the Persantine® scan will take place. This procedure lasts approximately 10 minutes. The technologist injects the radioactive tracer, and images are produced about 1 hour later. For best results, patients should eat a light snack that ideally includes a milk product during this 1-hour waiting period. This set of images takes approximately 20 minutes. Patients lie down on a stretcher with their arms above their heads while a camera moves around them.
Resting myocardial perfusion scan
For comparison purposes, a resting scan is conducted either the night before or the day after the Persantine® myocardial perfusion scan.
On the day of the resting myocardial perfusion scan, the technologist injects the same radioactive tracer that was used for the Persantine® scan. Images are taken approximately 1 hour after the injection. For best results, patients should eat a light snack that ideally includes a milk product during this 1-hour waiting period.
This set of images takes approximately 20 minutes. Patients lie down on a stretcher with their arms above their heads while a camera moves around them.
- Some people may feel some mild transitory and short-term side effects following the Persantine® injection. These side effects will completely subside by the end of the exam. The technologist will take the time to give you more details during the visit.
- You can resume your normal activities after the scan. The exam result is sent to your treating physician.
- If you are planning a trip outside of the country in the weeks following the exam and will have to go through AIR OR GROUND customs, it is important to advise the technologist. The presence of a radioactive tracer in your body may be detected at customs. You will therefore be given a document to confirm that you underwent a nuclear medicine exam.