Preparing for Heart Surgery and Diagnostic Tests

Exam Preparation Guidelines

In addition to the personal advice and directions you receive from your doctor, please refer to the guidance below to prepare for an upcoming procedure.

Cardiopulmonary

Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)

• No respiratory medications on the day of the test.

Echocardiogram

• Please wear loose clothing

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

• Hair must be washed and air dried - no blow-drying.
• No makeup or hair mousse/gel/spray.
• No perfume or body sprays.
• Please wear a button-up shirt or blouse.

Ultrasound – Carotids (Venous & Arterial)

• No preparation necessary.
• Venous and arterial ultrasound exams must be done on separate days and cannot be scheduled on the same day.
• The venous ultrasound exam will be done first to ensure there are no blood clots.

Cardiac Stress Testing

For all cardiac stress testing, please bring your physician’s order and your list of current medications with you for registration.

Treadmill Stress

• Light breakfast or lunch is permitted.
• Bring list of medications.
• Wear clothing and shoes comfortable for exercise, button-up shirt and pants.
• You will exercise on a treadmill with monitoring of your blood pressure and EKG for cardiac evaluation.
• Total length of appointment is approximately one hour.

Stress Echo (Treadmill)

• Light breakfast or lunch is permitted.
• Bring list of medications.
• Wear clothing and shoes comfortable for exercise, button-up shirt, pants and no underwire bra.
• You will have an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) before exercising on a treadmill.
• Immediately after exercise, you will have another echocardiogram for cardiac evaluation.
• Total length of appointment is approximately one and a half hours.

Dobutamine Stress Echo (No Exercise)

• Light breakfast or lunch is permitted.
• Bring list of medications.
• An IV will be started.
• IV medication (Dobutamine) will be given, and echocardiograms (ultrasound of the heart) will be performed for cardiac evaluation.
• Total length of appointment is approximately three hours.

Treadmill Nuclear Stress

• No caffeine at least 48 hours prior to the exam - that is, 9 a.m. two days before your test (see below for list).
• Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before and until the exam is completed (NPO).
• Bring list of medications.
• Wear clothing and shoes comfortable for exercise; no underwire bras.
• An IV will be started.
• You will be given an isotope through the IV and scanned before exercising on a treadmill to evaluate your heart at rest.
• At the peak of exercise, another isotope will be given and then followed with a repeated scan for cardiac evaluation.
• Total length of appointment is approximately four to six hours.

Adenosine/Persantine Nuclear Stress (No Exercise)

• No caffeine at least 48 hours prior to the exam - that is, 9 a.m. two days before your test (see below for list).
• Early morning testing: Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before and until the exam is completed.
• Late morning testing: Light breakfast before 6:30 a.m. and nothing to eat or drink until the exam is completed.
• Bring list of medications.
• Wear clothing and shoes comfortable for exercise; no underwire bras.
• An IV will be started.
• You will be given an isotope through the IV and scanned to evaluate your heart at rest.
• An IV medication (Persantine) will then be given, and your blood pressure and EKG will be monitored.
• Another isotope will be given and then followed with a repeated scan for cardiac evaluation.
• Total length of appointment is approximately four to six hours.
• If you have a chronic respiratory disease or condition, please notify the cardiology technician prior to your test.

About Caffeine

Some tests require that you not eat or drink anything containing caffeine for 48 hours prior to the exam. If you do take caffeine, your test will have to be rescheduled for another day. Here are some guidelines to help you avoid that inconvenience.

Even decaffeinated coffee, tea and some sodas actually contain caffeine. Some foods and beverages that contain caffeine include:

• Regular coffee and tea
• Decaffeinated coffee and tea
• Hot tea
• Iced tea
• Green tea
• Hot cocoa
• Chocolate milk, fudge and syrup
• Coffee and chocolate ice cream
• Coffee yogurt
• Coffee and chocolate frozen yogurt
• Chocolate candy and pudding
• Chocolate cake and brownies
• Chocolate chips
• Mountain Dew
• Root beer
• Dr. Pepper
• Pepsi
• Mr. Pibb
• Coca-Cola

Some medications also contain caffeine, including:

• Cafergot (all forms)
• Fiorinal (all forms)
• Wigraine (all forms)
• Esgic (all forms)
• No Doz
• Norgesic and Norgesic Forte
• Anacin
• Fiorcet
• Synalgos-DC
• Excedrin

Please ask your pharmacist if your medications might contain caffeine.