Dobutamine stress contrast echocardiography for diagnosis of coronary artery disease: a preliminary study

Objective To assess the value of dobutamine stress contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CAD). Methods A total of 375 patients who underwent dobutamine stress contrast echocardiography and completed coronary angiography (CAG) or coronary CT angiography (CTA) at the Cardiovascular Center of Dongguan Kanghua Hospital from November 2015 to June 2019 were selected. Coronary arterial stenosis ≥50% or ≥75% were used as the diagnostic criteria for CAD, and CAG or CTA results were used as control criteria. Four-fold table was used to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of dobutamine stress contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of CAD. Results When coronary arterial stenosis≥50% was used as the diagnostic criteria for CAD, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of dobutamine stress contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of CAD were 43%, 95%, and 67%, respectively. When coronary arterial stenosis≥75% was used as the diagnostic criteria for CAD, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of dobutamine stress contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of CAD were 71%, 96%, and 88%, respectively. Of the 1300 patients who underwent dobutamine stress contrast echocardiography, 16 had failed due to adverse reactions. The incidence of arrhythmia was 25%, and premature ventricular contractions were the most common. Conclusion Dobutamine stress contrast echocardiography has great diagnostic value for CAD, and its adverse reactions are preventable and manageable. Drug and exercise co-loading is an improvement of traditional stress ultrasound, which is simple and easy. Key words: Coronary artery disease; Dobutamine; Stress contrast echocardiography; Coronary arteriography