Nuclear Stress Test

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A nuclear stress test, also called a myocardial perfusion imaging test, measures how much blood is in your child’s heart muscle at rest and while exercising.

It can identify the cause of angina — unexplained chest pain that can happen with exercise. If your child has congenital heart disease, a nuclear stress test can help measure blood supply to the heart and how well the ventricles work.

Part of the test is done while exercising or with a medication that creates stresses on the heart similar to what happens during exercise. Another part of the test captures images of the heart at rest.

The board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists at Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, will use the results of a nuclear stress test to help determine the best treatment plan for your child.

A pediatric cardiac rehabilitation program supervised by experienced providers can improve the overall quality of life for children or adults with congenital heart disease.

Why Choose Norton Children’s Heart Institute

  • Norton Children’s Hospital has been a pioneer in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, performing Kentucky’s first pediatric heart transplant in 1986 and becoming the second site in the United States to perform an infant heart transplant.
  • The American Board of Thoracic Surgery has certified our cardiothoracic surgeons in congenital heart surgery.
  • The Adult Congenital Heart Association has accredited Norton Children’s Heart Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program as the only comprehensive care center in Kentucky and Indiana treating adults born with a heart defect.
  • More than 17,000 children a year visit Norton Children’s Heart Institute for advanced heart care.
  • Norton Children’s Heart Institute has offices across Kentucky and Southern Indiana to bring quality pediatric heart care closer to home.
  • The Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Norton Children’s Hospital is the largest dedicated CICU in Kentucky, equipped with 17 private rooms and the newest technology available for heart care.

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