Tolerability and infusion time of an accelerated infusion dobutamine echocardiography protocol.

Objective: A new, accelerated dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography (DASE) protocol (baseline 20 mcg/kg/min; 40 mcg/kg/min) was compared with a standard protocol in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) to evaluate tolerability, length of infusion, and overall test times, as well as safety.

Methods: Patients received the DASE or the standard protocol on an alternating basis (n = 164).

Results: Total test time, including patient recovery (HR < 100 bpm), dropped from an average of 19:23-12:12 min (p < 0.0001). Average symptom duration decreased from 5:50 to 3:17 min (p < 0.01). Women had shorter total test times in both accelerated and standard protocols compared to that of men.

Conclusions: The accelerated DASE protocol is a well tolerated alternative to standard dobutamine stress testing allowing practitioners to reduce test times without increasing the incidence of arrhythmias. Patients in the accelerated arm also had shorter duration of symptoms.