ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: No previous report of dobutamine stress echocardiography in the Thai population has been available. The present study seeks to document the protocol, indications, results and safety of dobutamine stress echocardiography performed at Siriraj Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors studied 421 [mean age 67.7 +/- 11.0 years, 179 (43%) men] consecutive Thai patients undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography at Siriraj Hospital. The protocol, indications and echocardiographic analysis were described. Clinical characteristics, hemodymanics, results and adverse effects were recorded at the time of dobutamine stress echocardiography. RESULTS: Dobutamine stress echocardiography was performed for preoperative assessment before non-cardiac surgery in 212 patients (50%), for the diagnosis of suspected Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in 179 patients (43%), for risk stratification of CAD in 24 patients (6%), and for other reasons in six patients (1%). The results were normal and positive for inducible ischemia in 276 (66%) and 80 (19%) patients, respectively. Limiting side effects were observed in 3%. No death, myocardial infarction or life-threatening arrhythmias occurred. Transient stress-associated tachyarrhythmias, such as atrialfibrillation, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia or supraventricular tachycardia, occurred in 3.5% of patients. CONCLUSION: Dobutamine stress echocardiography was considered a safe and tolerable technique for the evaluation of CAD in Thai population.