Lexiscan vs. stress echo

[queenjulie, RN]

I'm on a Step-Down tele unit, primarily cardiac, and I just realized that I don't know the difference between a Lexiscan and a stress echocardiogram. Can anyone explain? It seems to be the difference checking for blood flow versus structural abnormalities--is that correct?

[buffieriley]

I'm an LPN who works in a busy cardiology practice and I run stress testing, so I will answer this. Lexiscan is basically a chemical used for nuclear stress testing. It is used for patients that cannot walk or are unable to achieve their target heart rate by walking on the treadmill. I assume you would like to know the difference between a Nuclear Stress test and a stress echo. You are correct, the nuclear stress test is looking at blood flow to the coronary arteries both at rest and after stress ( either by treadmill or Lexiscan.) The doctor looks at both sets of pictures and the EKG that is obtained during the stress portion of the test to see if there might be any ischemia or abnormalities. A stress echo looks at the valves and walls both at rest and with stress, at peak stress wall motion abnormalities can occur which can indicate potential blockage. The there are other reasons to do stress echos, but I don't want to bore you by listing them all :) There is also a chemical stress echo, our clinic uses dobutamine for those, again for those patients unable to exercise. Hope this helps!

[andi.w]

I'm an LPN who works in a busy cardiology practice and I run stress testing so I will answer this. Lexiscan is basically a chemical used for nuclear stress testing. It is used for patients that cannot walk or are unable to achieve their target heart rate by walking on the treadmill. I assume you would like to know the difference between a Nuclear Stress test and a stress echo. You are correct, the nuclear stress test is looking at blood flow to the coronary arteries both at rest and after stress ( either by treadmill or Lexiscan.) The doctor looks at both sets of pictures and the EKG that is obtained during the stress portion of the test to see if there might be any ischemia or abnormalities. A stress echo looks at the valves and walls both at rest and with stress, at peak stress wall motion abnormalities can occur which can indicate potential blockage. The there are other reasons to do stress echos, but I don't want to bore you by listing them all :) There is also a chemical stress echo, our clinic uses dobutamine for those, again for those patients unable to exercise. Hope this helps![/quote']

Lexiscan testing is relatively new at our hospital. What is the difference between the Lexiscan and a persantine or dobutamine stress test that we used prior? Is it just the chemical used during the nuclear part?

[dianah, ASN]

Yes, Lexiscan is the medication used for the stress portion of the MPI, when pts are unable to walk for the stress portion.

If they can walk slowly for the four minutes of the stress portion (starting at injection of the Lexiscan), we have them walk.