What is Definity ® Ultrasound Enhancer?
Sometimes it may be difficult to get clear pictures of your heart during an ultrasound. The Ultrasound Technologist may suggest using an ultrasound image enhancing agent to see your heart better. An image enhancing agent is something that is injected into your blood to help show better pictures.
Cardio Study uses Definity ®. This is made up of gas-filled microbubbles that reflect the sound waves. Using Definity ® provides technologists and cardiologists more optimal visualizations of the heart muscle.
Definity ® is NOT similar to x-ray contrasts or dyes. It is NOT iodine-based. It does NOT affect your kidneys or liver. It is a gas that will naturally leave your body as your breathe.
How is Definity ® Ultrasound Enhancer given?
An IV certified professional (ultrasound technologist, cardiovascular technologist, or phlebotomist) will inject Definity ® into a vein in your arm or hand. They do this by using an intravenous (IV) catheter. When the study is completed, the IV will be removed.
Are there any side-effects?
One in 10,000 patients have an allergic-like reaction to Definity ®.
A common sign that you are having a reaction is getting a rash around the injection site. If this happens, we will give you a medication to treat the reaction, then we will observe you prior to leaving.
Sometimes patients get a headache or lower back pain. These reactions disappear when you exhale the gas from your body.
Who should not receive Definity ® Ultrasound Enhancer?
Definity ® is not currently used in:
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Individuals with shunts (holes within the heart that allow blood to flow from the right to the left side of the heart). We will check for this during the first part of the examination.
- Individuals undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (for kidney stones) within the next 24 hours.
You may be asked to stay for 5-10 minutes after your echo for observation. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Ask your healthcare provider about this information if you have questions.
