Dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Echocardiography is a very good technique for the analysis of total and regional left ventricular wall motion. It can be used, in conjunction with a protocol for either exercise or pharmacologic cardiovascular stress, to identify the presence and distribution of coronary artery disease. The presence of myocardial ischemia is proved by the induction by a regional left ventricular wall motion abnormality. The use of dobutamine infusion as a stress test associated with echocardiography is a practical method, safe and accurate for the diagnosis of coronary disease in patients unable to exercise. Dobutamine stress echocardiography can also be used for assessment of risk and patient prognosis after acute myocardial infarction and as an indicator of myocardial viability.