Spasm studies

I am scheduled for a cardiac catherization with IVUS and spasm studies in 2 weeks.  What is the procedure for spasm studies?  Does ergonovine always elicit spasm in the coronary vessels?  If the LAD does spasm how is it stopped?   Does this procedure lead to a temporary increase in angina?

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

A spasm study is performed in someone who has angina and ST-segment changes but no significant coronary artery blockages.  It is done during a heart catheterization and ergotovine is injected to elict coronary artery spasm.   There are several ways to determine spasm once ergotovine is injected.  The most common is to inject more dye and take pictures.  Newer techniques include IVUS (intravascuar ultrasound) and flow wires.  Once spasm is documented nitroglycerine can be used to reverse it regardless of location.  The increase in angina is only during the test.

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