The week before
- Confirm your booking with Jones Radiology at SAHMRI on (08) 8407 6750 and note the arrival time. Allow two to two and a half hours.
- Tell the radiology team if you have kidney disease, diabetes (particularly if you take metformin), asthma, a previous reaction to contrast dye, or if you could be pregnant.
- If you take sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis), stop three days before the scan, provided the prescribing doctor agrees. These cannot be combined with the GTN spray used during the scan.
- Keep taking beta blockers and all other regular medicines unless told otherwise.
The day before
- Avoid caffeine, energy drinks and strenuous exercise from the evening before; they raise the heart rate, and a slow steady heart rate gives the clearest images.
- Drink water normally. Being well hydrated helps the kidneys clear the contrast.
On the morning
- No fasting is required. Have a light breakfast and drink water.
- No smoking or vaping for four hours before the scan.
- Wear a top that is easy to remove, and leave necklaces and metal at home.
- Bring your referral, Medicare card, medication list and any previous heart test results.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home if you are anxious about the heart-rate tablet; most people are fine to drive.
At the imaging centre
Nurses check your heart rate and blood pressure. If the rate is above about 60, you will be given a beta blocker tablet and asked to wait for it to work, usually about an hour. A cannula is placed in the arm. In the scanner, you lie flat with your arms above your head, ECG stickers on your chest, and receive a GTN spray under the tongue. You will be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds two or three times. The contrast gives a brief warm flush that passes in seconds.
Afterwards
- You are observed for about 30 minutes, then the cannula is removed.
- Drink plenty of water for the rest of the day.
- A mild headache from the GTN is common and settles within an hour; paracetamol is fine.
- If you take metformin and were asked to pause it, restart as instructed, usually after 48 hours.
- Contact the imaging centre or your GP if you develop a rash, swelling or wheeze, and call 000 for any difficulty breathing.
Results
The report goes to A/Prof Verjans within a few working days. You will have a follow-up appointment to go through the images and the plan. Please do not rely on the written report alone; the meaning of a finding depends on your symptoms and risk factors. If plaque is found and your cholesterol is high, treatment targets are covered on our familial hypercholesterolaemia page.