DIAGNOSTIC YIELD OF STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective:

To find out the sensitivity and specificity of dobutamine stress echocardiography in comparison

Methodology:

This Cross-Sectional study was conducted at cardiology department, Lady Reading Hospital

Peshawar, from January to December 2007. Data was collected by non probability purposive sampling

technique. Study patients underwent both dobutamine stress echo and coronary angiography, after taking

an informed consent. Dobutamine stress echo was performed according to standard protocol.

Results:

Total of 50 patients, whose mean age was 51.6+/-9.7, were studied. Men were 35 (70%) and

women were 15 (30%). Dobutamine was infused (10 to 40 micrograms/kg/min) in 3 minutes intervals. The

inducible ischemia was detected in total 33(66%) patients. Seven patients (14%) had only resting wall

motion abnormalities with no change by dobutamine stress. These patients were also taken as positive for

ischemia. Coronary angiography showed 43/50 (86%) patients had > 50% stenosis in at least one

coronary artery. Compared with coronary angiography, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative

predictive values and accuracy of dobutamine stress echo for detection of coronary artery disease were

91%, 86%, 97%, 60%and 90% respectively. The sensitivities for SVD, DVD and TVD were 76%, 89% and

100% respectively.

Conclusion:

Dobutamine stress echo is a sensitive and specific method in non invasive diagnosis of

suspected CAD. It is highly sensitive for multivessel disease as compared to single vessel disease.

to the angiographic findings.