You must have
NOTHING to eat or drink 2 hours before your test. Medications can be taken with a sip of water unless your doctor tells you not to.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
Bring with you to your appointment your:
- Health card (OHIP card). If you do not have an OHIP card, please bring another form of government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license, passport, or other provincial health card). Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment.
When you arrive at the
Echocardiography Lab check in at the reception desk. The receptionist will ask you:
- For your Health card (OHIP card)
- Your name, address and birth date
- Your family doctor and next of kin information
You will be given a name band to wear.
A sonographer will escort you to a change room where you will be asked to remove all clothing from the waist up. A patient gown will be provided.
You will be taken into the procedure room. Please take your valuables with you.
During the test monitors will be attached to you to record your heart rate, heart rhythm, and blood pressure during the test. A needle will be inserted into an arm vein to give you the medication. You will be asked to lie on your left side. The sonographer will take pictures of your heart.
After the test the sonographer cannot give you the results. The cardiologist will review the images and write a report.
The report will be sent to the doctor who requested the stress echo and he/she will discuss the results with you at a later time.
A Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram usually takes 30 minutes to one hour.
We do everything that we can to stay on time. Unfortunately, your appointment may be delayed by unforeseen circumstances. We recommend that you come prepared for delays.
