A cardiac stress test is a diagnostic procedure used to evaluate the heart performance under physical stress. It is used to detect coronary artery disease (CAD), arrhythmias, or other heart-related conditions. This test helps physicians to understand the heart performance when it’s working in harder situation rather than at rest.
Types of Cardiac Stress Tests:
- Exercise Stress Test (Treadmill Test):
- It is used to evaluate abnormal changes in the heart’s electrical activity and circulation of blood during physical stress. It could detect blocked arteries or irregular heart rhythms.
- When patient exercises on a treadmill with gradually increase in speed to make the heart work harder. During this test, heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram (ECG) are continuously evaluated.
2. Pharmacologic Stress Test:
- A drug (like dobutamine or adenosine) is injected to mimic the effects of exercise. It increases heart rate by dilating the coronary arteries.
- This also helps to evaluate the heart disease in patients who cannot physically perform exercises.
3. Nuclear Stress Test (Myocardial Perfusion Imaging):
- In nuclear stress test small amount of radioactive tracer is injected into the blood and a special camera is used to detect the tracer that will produce images of blood flow to the heart muscle at harder situation vs rest.
- It is used to scan areas of poor blood flow or damage to the heart muscle.
4. Stress Echocardiogram:
- It helps to detect areas of the heart that may not be getting enough blood during exercise or stressful situation.
- In this type physician uses ultrasound images of the heart before and after exercise or pharmacologic stress which help to evaluate how well the heart pumps and able to check the abnormal finding of the heart’s walls.
Purpose of Cardiac Stress Test
- If patient is showing symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations.
- Arrhythmias or unexplained fainting (syncope).
- Risk of coronary artery disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, or a family history of heart disease.
CPT Codes for Cardiac Stress Test:
ICD-10-PCS Procedure Code
4A12XM4 Monitoring of Cardiac Stress, External Approach