A Persantine MIBI test assesses your coronary vessel health via diagnostic imaging using radioactive tracers.
What is a Persantine MIBI?
The goal of this procedure is to assess your coronary vessel health via diagnostic imaging by using radioactive tracers. These tracers are generally safe when used for medical purposes. This diagnostic cardiology test is designed help the clinician determine the current status of a patient's heart. Your physician would prescribe this test if you are having symptoms of shortness of breath on exertion, or experience mild arm/chest pain after activity.
If your physician or cardiologist recommends that you undergo this test, you will receive an appointment at hospital or an outpatient facility.
What should I expect during my Persantine MIBI procedure?
First, a nuclear medical technologist will prepare you for the exam, you will have an intravenous line placed on your arm. You will then be given a radioactive tracer via the intravenous line, and will be required to eat a small snack. After your snack, you will be taken to the scanner. This test helps determine the heart’s vessel health at rest prior to your persantine infusion.
After your first scan, you will be taken to the diagnostic cardiology department, where your body will be prepared for the persantine stress portion of the test. You don’t have to worry about doing any activities.
Once the test is ready, it will take four minutes for the infusion of persantine to take place. Some people may experience symptoms, such as flushing, nausea, mild chest pain, or headache. It is very important to communicate how you are feeling to the technologists. If you feel unwell two minutes after the infusion occurs, the technologists will communicate to the physician to give you the antidote to the persantine drug.
Once the four minute infusion is completed you will wait three minutes until the last radioactive tracer is infused. Once the test is completed you will leave the cardiology department and wait for 45 minutes. After this waiting period, you will go for your last scan. The entire procedure will take three to four hours.
What should I do to prepare for my Persantine MIBI?
There are several things you will need to do to prepare for this test. For example, your physician will request that you fast before this procedure. In addition, please:
- Ensure your body is free from lotions and fragrances.
- Avoid the use of stimulants, smoking (e-cigarettes included), and consumption of alcohol and narcotics prior to this procedure.
- Bring a small snack and a small meal for certain portions of the test. Please ensure they have a higher than normal fat content. Some suggestions include a bagel with butter, a glass of homogenized milk or a muffin.
What are my options if I cannot take the Persantine MIBI test?
People with asthma cannot take the Persantine MIBI test. If you have asthma, your physician may decide to order a dobutamine stress test for you instead. Dobutamine is a substitute for persantine, which stimulates your heart to increase your heart rate, it mimics exercise activity. You will feel like you're exercising when in fact you are laying down.
During a dobutamine stress test, instead of getting persantine infused, dobutamine is infused to increase your heart rate over a period of 12 minutes. As in the case of the persantine test, please communicate any symptoms you are experiencing. The second radioactive tracer gets infused once your heart rate reaches its target zone. There is no antidote to this test, you will have to wait until your body is fully able to absorb the dobutamine infusion for your heart rate to come down after the test.
Once the dobutamine test is completed, you will be required to eat a small meal and go for your next set of scans.