The myocardial scintigraphy (scintigraphy of the myocardial muscle) allows a 3-dimensional ECG triggered scintigraphy of the myocardial muscle in rest and under stress for specific identification of circulatory disturbance or detection of scarred changes, through which usually an invasive intervention (intracardiac catheter) can be avoided.
To capture the blood circulation of the heart, you will be injected with a radioactive nuclide via arm vein after bicycle ergometric or pharmacological stress (the doctor decides which stress form is used). Depending on the metabolic rate and circulatory of the heart tissue, the nuclide attaches itself to the tissue.
After this, tomography images with a gamma cam are generated of the heart. The triggering of the images with an ECG allows to make a statement of cardiac function, wall movement and emission output.

In our practice, the myocardial scintigraphy is performed as 2-days-protocol with 99mTc marked MIBI (Methoxy-isobuturyl-isonitril). This means, you will be examined on two consecutive days.
On the first day your heart will be examined under stress, the following day in rest.
If you take beta blocker, they have to be discontinued about 2 days prior to the examination in accordance with your family doctor. Please do not have breakfast on the examination days. Also, you have to avoid coffee, black tea and drinks that contain caffeine. A mouthful of mineral water is allowed.

Please bring a sub or sandwich with cheese or sausage on both examination days. This should be eaten in the practice 30 minutes after the injection with a coffee.
You need to time about 2-3 hours.

INDICATION

- Query of coronary heart disease (CHD) or acquisition of its prognosis
- Query of relevance of known stenosis of coronary blood vessels
- Follow-up after PCI, bypass surgery or stent implantation
- Exclusion of malignancy