Cardiac Resources
Please reference the table below to find the preparations you need to take for your upcoming exam.
| Test | Prep |
| Holter, Event, ECAT Monitoring | Clean skin, free of powder and lotion. |
| Echocardiogram | Clean skin, free of powder and lotion, wear loose, comfortable clothing. |
| Renal Ultrasound | Fasting for 12 hours prior to test. Hold morning BP meds until after test is completed. |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG) | Clean skin, free of powder and lotion, wear loose, comfortable clothing |
| Cardiac PET/CT | You may eat a light breakfast 4 hours prior, nothing after that. Diabetic patients, follow personalized food plan. NO CAFFEINE 24 HOURS PRIOR. THIS INCLUDES COFFEE, TEA, CHOCOLATE, SODA, DECAF COFFEE & TEA, EXCEDRINE OR OTHER MIGRAINE MEDICATIONS. NO SMOKING 4 HOURS PRIOR. Continue to drink plenty of water to ensure easy IV access. DO NOT take the following medications 48 hours prior to the test: Aggrenox, Persantine, Dipyridamole, Theophylline, Imdur, Isosorbide Mononitrate & Isosorbide Dinitrate & Erectile Dysfunction Medications. NO Nitroglycerine day of the test. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. |
| Cardiac PET | You may eat a light breakfast 4 hours prior, nothing after that. Diabetic patients, follow personalized food plan. NO CAFFEINE 12 HOURS PRIOR. THIS INCLUDES COFFEE, TEA, CHOCOLATE, SODA, DECAF COFFEE & TEA, EXCEDRINE OR OTHER MIGRAINE MEDICATIONS. NO SMOKING 4 HOURS PRIOR. Continue to drink plenty of water to ensure easy IV access. DO NOT take the following medications 48 hours prior to the test: Aggrenox, Persantine, Dipyridamole, Theophylline, Imdur, Isosorbide Mononitrate & Isosorbide Dinitrate & Erectile Dysfunction Medications. NO Nitroglycerine day of the test. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. |
| Nuclear Medicine Stress Test | You may eat a light breakfast 4 hours prior, nothing after that. Diabetic patients, follow personalized food plan. NO CAFFEINE 12 HOURS PRIOR. THIS INCLUDES COFFEE, TEA, CHOCOLATE, SODA, DECAF COFFEE & TEA, EXCEDRINE OR OTHER MIGRAINE MEDICATIONS. NO SMOKING 4 HOURS PRIOR. Continue to drink plenty of water to ensure easy IV access. DO NOT take the following medications 48 hours prior to the test: Aggrenox, Persantine, Dipyridamole, Theophylline, Imdur, Isosorbide Mononitrate & Isosorbide Dinitrate & Erectile Dysfunction Medications. NO Nitroglycerine day of the test. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. |
| Stress Echo Test | Clean skin, free of powder and lotion, wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes. Hold Beta Blockers unless your physician instructs otherwise. |
| Treadmill Test | Clean skin, free of powder and lotion, wear loose, comfortable clothing. Hold Beta Blockers if instructed by your physician. |
| Pulmonary Function Test (Lung Capacity Test) | No Prep for this test |
| Autonomic Function Test | Clean skin, free of powder and lotion, wear loose, comfortable clothing. No food 2 hours prior to test. Drink plenty of fluids. Hold medications if instructed by your physician. |
| Tilt Table Test | Clear liquid or light breakfast the day of the test. Drink plenty of fluids, preferably no caffeine. Take morning meds. |
Procedure Information
- You must have nothing to eat or drink after midnight. If your procedure time is scheduled for after 12:00 pm, it is okay to have a light breakfast before 6:00 am.
- Any medication you take in the morning is okay to take with a small amount of water.
- You MUST have someone pick you up from the hospital; you will not be able to drive home.
- Pack an overnight bag for observation due to certain procedures.
Medications to HOLD:
- Metformin: Do not take the morning of your procedure
- Insulin: If you are insulin dependent only take 1/2 a dose the morning of your procedure.
- Coumadin: You will need to hold this medication for 3-5 days prior to your procedure.
- Pradaxa: You will need to hold this 2 days prior to your procedure, unless otherwise instructed.
- Xarelto: You will need to hold this 1 day prior to your procedure, unless otherwise instructed.
- Eliquis: You will need to hold this 2 days prior to your procedure, unless otherwise instructed.
Our office will contact you 1-2 days prior to the procedure with specific instructions. Typically, patients are told to:
- Remain NPO (nothing to eat/drink) after midnight before the procedure
- We encourage patients to take their blood pressure medications with a SMALL sip of WATER the morning of the procedure
- If you take insulin please be aware that you will receive special instructions for the day of surgery
- If you take metformin/medications containing metformin or warfarin (Coumadin), you will be instructed to stop those medications for 3-5 days before the procedure. Please make sure to clarify this with the office staff as circumstances can change with each individual
- Shower the day of/night before surgery
- Feel free to bring a snack/fluids to enjoy after the procedure
- Make sure you are able to recover for 5 days post-procedure
- Most patients will require 5 days of light activity (no heavy lifting/bending/squatting).
Procedure Locations
Northwest Hospital:
– Address: 6200 N. La Cholla Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85741. Phone: 520-742-9000
– You will need to check in through the emergency room. Check in at the outpatient admitting desk.
Oro Valley Hospital:
– Address: 1551 E. Tangerine Blvd. Oro Valley, AZ 85755. Phone: 520-901-3500
– To check in you will need to go to the back of the hospital. There is a surgery entrance you will need to check in at surgery admitting.
Tucson Medical Center
– Address: 5301 E. Grant Rd. Tucson, AZ 85712 Phone: 520-327-5461
– Check in through the Northeast Entrance
St. Mary’s Hospital
– Address: 1601 W. St. Mary’s Rd. Tucson, AZ 85745. Phone: 520-872-3000
– You will need to check in through the main entrance to main admitting
St. Joseph’s Hospital
– Address: 350 N. Wilmot Rd. Tucson, AZ 85711. Phone: 520-873-3000
– You will go into the main entrance and check in with the concierge clerk. They will direct you to outpatient surgeries.
Green Valley Hospital
– 455 S. I-19 Frontage Rd. Tucson, AZ 85622. Phone: 520-808-2382