Appointment Date:    

Registration Time:     

Injection Time:          

Imaging Time:               

CAUTION:  Please inform the Technologist if there is ANY chance you are pregnant or breast feeding.

Patient  preparation:

1. No methylxanthine medications for 36-48 hours prior to testing.  Some of these medications are Theophylline, Aminophylline, Theodur, Theo 24, Slo-bid and Uniphyl.  Click here for a complete list.

2. No caffeine or decaffeinated products for 24 hours prior to your test.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.  Your test will be rescheduled if you have had caffeine within 24 hours of your appointment.  Many products contain caffeine such as coffee, decaf coffee, tea, decaf tea, sodas, chocolate, diet drinks, chocolate breath mints, Excedrin, Midol, NoDoz, Vanquish and Vivarin.  If you are not sure if a product contains caffeine AVOID IT!  A caffeine content chart is available here.

3. Water only after 10:00 pm the evening prior to your test.  Diabetics please click here for specific diet instructions.

4. Take all other medications as directed by your physician.  Please bring a list of all medications that you have taken in the 7 day period prior to your test.  Bring any inhalers you use with you.

5. No smoking or chewing tobacco on the day of your test.

6. Wear comfortable clothing, particularly walking shoes.

7. If you are claustrophobic, sedation is available.  However, you must have a responsible driver to take you home.

Procedure:

1. After placement of an IV catheter in your arm vein, you will receive an injection of the radioactive tracer.  Females will be asked to change into a hospital gown.   

2. The radiotracer is allowed to circulate for a period of time (depending on technique) prior to the start of imaging.  You will be asked to drink some water during this period.

3. A series of images will be taken for 30-40 minutes.  These are resting baseline images.

4. A stress test will be performed utilizing either the treadmill or a special medication.

5. A second series of images will be taken as soon as the schedule permits (usually 30-40 minutes after the stress test).  These are the stress images.

6. The entire procedure will last between 3-4 hours (from registration time).

Parking and other information:

Parking is available in the flat parking lot behind the hospital (13th and Alder - entrance is off Alder St) OR  in the Physician's and Surgeon's South Building.  Entrances to this parking structure are available from Patterson St, Hilyard St and East 12th Ave.  We provide parking validation.

Please register in the Oregon Heart Center on the first floor of the hospital.  After registering you will be escorted to Nuclear Medicine.  We make every effort to perform each patient's procedure in a timely manner, however, unforeseen delays occasionally occur.

Please contact us at (541) 686-7218 to cancel or reschedule your appointment.  We appreciate 24 hour cancellation notice.  Our office hours are between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Mon - Fri).

All results will be sent directly to the physician who ordered your exam.  Unless other arrangements have been made, results will be sent within 5 days.

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Nuclear Medicine
Sacred Heart Medical Center
1255 Hilyard St., Eugene
(541) 686-7010

Please call 686-7010 to schedule your patient's exam.

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