Is a stress Echo as good as a coronary angiography?

[granola_lover777]

Haven’t posted in a bit.

Hello everyone, last I spoke I was scheduled for CT coronary angiography; and many beta blockers and 2 re-scheduled appointments I was unable to bring my heart rate below 65 bpm to conduct the test.

My cardiologist advised me that she didn’t want to waste anymore of my time, so she set me up for a stress echocardiogram. It’s a true shame, I know how good a CTTA can be at diagnosing heart and arterio abnormalities; but alas such a test doesn’t seem to be in my immediate future.

I know that a stress echo doesn’t reveal to the detail as an angiography; but what can it reveal? Is an echo stress test a reliable test in diagnosing heart and coronary abnormalities?

Thank you,

[Jako999]

It’s a bit like a pyramid you work your way up the list of tests and an angiogram is towards the top. The angiogram is classed as an invasive procedure all though it’s only a small it’s still cutting in to you and carries all the Robles and protocols of a full operation. Therefore it a lot more risky for you and a lot more expensive.

Good luck

[Qualipop]

From what I've been told an echo looks at the condition of the heart muscle, an angiogram looks at the arteries. I'm trying to find out whether two blockages have got any worse. I thought my echo would show it but not so. An angiogram is considered too invasive so my GP has asked for a CT Scan instead. Different tests for different things. This is only my understanding of what I've been told.

[bluemoon572]

A stress echo is done to screen for evidence of possible coronary artery blockages. A maximal test is what we strive for& is considered the target of achieving 85% of your maximal heart rate where as a symptom limited test is when we keep exercising past the 85% target to see if symptoms are provoked along with echo abnormalities. If no heart muscle abnormalities are seen during these tests,it's considered unlikely that there is significant coronary artery blockages. If abnormalities are seen then CT angiography or, the gold standard, invasive cardiac catheterization with angiography ( angioplasty & stent placement may be done at this time) are the next steps in the workup.