Dobutamine stress echocardiography: what role in today's ICU?

Changes in left ventricular systolic wall motion and thickness (systolic function) may develop in response to dobutamine infusions; such changes can be detected echocardiographically--a technique called dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). By mapping the changes to graded doses of dobutamine, DSE permits us to detect myocardial ischemia and to assess whether myocardial damage is reversible. As a result, this test can help predict which patients are likely to benefit from revascularization. DSE also allows us to determine a specific point at which evidence of ischemia begins. The test is highly accurate, safe, and comparatively inexpensive.