Please remember to bring your requesting letter and any recent X-rays or CT scans. At the time of your appointment, report to North Shore Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, located on the ground floor of North Shore Private Hospital in Westbourne Street, St Leonards.
Take all of your usual medications.
There is no need to fast for this test.
The whole procedure takes about an hour.
The test involves two injections. In the first place, you are given an injection of stannous chloride into a vein (usually near the elbow). This prepares your red blood cells for the second injection (given 15-20 minutes later) of a small amount of a radioactive compound mixed with a small amount of your blood. A specialised camera is then used to take a motion picture of your heart. The whole procedure takes about one hour.
There are no side effects from the injection. The injection does NOT contain iodine and is safe to give if you have had a previous allergic reaction to X-ray contrast injections. Although you will be required to keep still during the scan, the procedure is entirely painless. There is no need to hold your breath during the test.
The test is usually not performed in pregnant women, so please inform us before the test begins if you know that you are (or think you might be) pregnant.
You can drive home after the scan. You will not be drowsy in any way.
In general, the scans and results are sent to your doctor the next working day. Depending on the type of scan you are having (and the clinical urgency), you may be able to take the scan with you in some cases; however, there will be a delay while the report is typed.
If you have any questions, please phone North Shore Radiology and Nuclear Medicine on (02) 8425 3684. We will be happy to answer any queries that you may have.
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