Is aminophylline injection the best practice as a reversal agent in nuclear cardiac stress testing?

Conclusions: The majority of hospitals reported pharmacologic stress testing to be more common than exercise testing and most are utilizing Lexiscan. With 75% of hospitals reporting a defect in their supply chain due to shortages of aminophylline and 85% of hospitals indicating use of caffeine, the conclusion can be made the caffeine has replaced aminophylline in some clinics as the first choice in reversal of symptoms. According to anonymous answers to survey questions, a few hospitals/clinics stated they use caffeine instead of aminophylline regardless of the shortage. Due to the high number of responses to utilizing caffeine-containing beverages in the hospital setting, it can be seen that caffeinated beverages are a viable option for a reversal agent. This type of reversal agent could be easier on patients, cheaper for hospitals, and easier to supply. These types of beverages (i.e. soda, coffee, etc.) are generally easier to keep stocked and readily available for use. Overall, while both aminophylline and caffeine work well, caffeine can be a cheaper and safe option for reversal of pharmacologic stress test symptoms.
Source: Journal of Nuclear Medicine - Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Tags: Technologist Student Papers III Source Type: research