Name of the Procedure:

• Common Name: Regadenoson Injection
• Medical Term: Injection, regadenoson, 0.1 mg (J2785)

Summary

Regadenoson injection is a medical procedure where a small dose of the drug regadenoson is administered intravenously. This drug is primarily used in cardiac stress testing to help diagnose heart conditions by dilating the coronary arteries and increasing blood flow to the heart.

Purpose

• Medical Conditions: This procedure is commonly used to evaluate coronary artery disease and other heart conditions.
• Goals: To provide a clearer image of the heart during a cardiac stress test, enabling more accurate diagnosis and better decision-making regarding treatment options.

Indications

• Specific Symptoms/Conditions: Patients with chest pain, shortness of breath, or abnormal heart rhythms.
• Patient Criteria: Suitable for patients who are unable to undergo a traditional exercise stress test due to physical limitations or other contraindications.

Preparation

• Pre-procedure Instructions: Patients may need to avoid caffeine and certain medications for 24 hours prior to the procedure. Fasting for a few hours before the test might be required.
• Diagnostics Tests: A baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) and a thorough medical history review are typically performed beforehand.

Procedure Description

1. Preparation: The patient is seated or lying down. An IV line is started in the arm.
2. Drug Administration: The healthcare provider slowly injects 0.1 mg of regadenoson through the IV.
3. Monitoring: Heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG are continuously monitored throughout the procedure.
4. Imaging: After the injection, the patient may undergo imaging tests (e.g., nuclear imaging) to observe the heart's blood flow.

• Tools/Equipment: IV line, ECG machine, imaging devices (e.g., gamma camera for nuclear imaging).
• Anesthesia/Sedation: Not required for this procedure.

Duration

The actual injection and immediate monitoring take about 15-20 minutes. The entire stress test, including imaging, can take up to a few hours.

Setting

Primarily performed in a hospital setting or an outpatient cardiac testing center.

Personnel

• Healthcare Professionals Involved: A cardiologist or a trained technician administers the injection and conducts the test, assisted by nursing staff.

Risks and Complications

• Common Risks: Flushing, headache, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
• Rare Risks: Severe allergic reactions, chest pain, or arrhythmias. These complications are managed with immediate medical intervention.

Benefits

• Expected Benefits: Enhanced diagnostic accuracy for coronary artery disease without needing to physically stress the heart through exercise.
• Timing: The benefits are usually realized shortly after the imaging is completed and analyzed.

Recovery

• Post-procedure Care: Patients might be asked to rest for a short period post-injection while being monitored.
• Expected Recovery Time: Typically, there is no significant downtime, and normal activities can be resumed shortly after the test.
• Restrictions: Few to none, apart from general advice on avoiding strenuous activity for the rest of the day.
• Follow-up: Results are usually discussed with the patient in a follow-up appointment with their cardiologist.

Alternatives

• Other Treatments: Traditional exercise stress test, pharmacologic stress tests using different agents (e.g., adenosine, dobutamine).
• Pros and Cons: Exercise stress tests provide different physiological insights but may not be suitable for all patients. Regadenoson is generally well-tolerated and can be used in a wider range of patients who can't perform physical exercise.

Patient Experience

• During the Procedure: Mild discomfort from the IV line and possible transient side effects from the medication such as flushing or headache.
• After the Procedure: Most patients feel back to normal shortly and can resume regular activities. Pain is minimal to nonexistent, with any discomfort usually managed effectively with simple measures like hydration and rest.