Respiratory arrest during dipyridamole stress testing.
There is an increasing usage of radionuclide scanning to assess myocardial perfusion, with dipyridamole, the most commonly used stress agent. Although this is an effective, and usually very safe, means by which to assess myocardial blood supply, there have been several incidents of acute bronchospasm in asthmatic patients. There have, however, been no previous reports of respiratory arrest occurring in patients with emphysema. This case illustrates the dangers of administering intravenous dipyridamole, or even adenosine, to patients with chronic lung disease.
Hillis
G S
GS
Department of Cardiology, Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust, Foresterhill, UK.
al-Mohammad
A
A
Jennings
K P
KP
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D004176:Dipyridamole