What is Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy?
How is it done? Your doctor has arranged for you to have a MPS scan. The scan assesses the blood flow to your heart muscle and how well your heart muscle is functioning. In the stress test, you have an injection (into a vein in your arm or hand) of a natural substance called adenosine that dilates the arteries of the heart. During the infusion you pedal gently on a bicycle to counteract some of the side effects of the adenosine. Approximately 45 minutes later, we scan your heart. The scan takes just over 15 minutes and during this time, the gamma camera moves around your chest and you need to lie flat and still with both arms above your head. Most patients require a second scan which is done at rest. This involves an injection of a radioactive tracer that lodges temporarily in the heart muscle. The second part of the test starts about an hour and a half after the first. You are then allowed to eat and approximately an hour later a second scan (similar to the first) of your heart is tak
