Recently in various departments interest in dobutamine stress echocardiography is increasing. Originally this examination was meant for the diagnosis of suspected ischaemic heart disease in patients unable to tolerate a physical load. Clinical applications of this test are constantly expanding and comprise a number of risk patients. The purpose of the submitted paper is to discuss the safety of dobutamine stress echocardiography. The authors submit an analysis of 259 examinations of patients with suspected ischaemic heart disease (46%), after acute myocardial infection (42%) and patients with significant left ventricular dysfunction (12%). 231 examinations (89%) were made up to the defined maximum. The test was terminated prematurely in 12 patients on account of arrhythmia, in 10 because the test was positive, in two because of extracardiac effects, in three instances on account of hypotension and in one patient on account of pressure hyperreaction. Arrhythmias were recorded in 26%, discontinuous ventricular tachycardia was recorded only in two patients (0.7) with severe left ventricular dysfunction. Hypotension was found in 13%, pressure hyperreaction in 2%. Palpitations were noted in 15% of the examined patients and extracardiac side-effects in 31%. None of the side-effects called for therapeutic intervention. The authors consider dobutamine stress echocardiography a safe test which is well tolerated by the majority of patients and there is a minimum of side-effects. A higher risk must be foreseen in patients with reduced left ventricular function, hypertrophy of the left ventricle and those with an history of arrhythmias.

Keywords: Cardiotonic Agents /adverse effects/; Coronary Disease /diagnostic imaging/; Dobutamine /adverse effects/; Echocardiography; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged