A client is scheduled for an ECG single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT). She asks why they are doing this test. The nurse explains that: Select all that apply

Question

1. SPECT images display three views of the heart instead of on a single plane.
2. SPECT images are high resolution and have better separation of overlapping myocardial segments, which provides more specific information about cardiac muscle function.
3. SPECT images can be correlated with the ECG to assess ventricular wall motion, which assesses the effectiveness of the heart muscle.
4. SPECT is an accurate depiction of the electrical activity of the heart.
5. SPECT gives specific information about percent of coronary artery occlusion.

Answer 1

1. SPECT images display three views of the heart instead of on a single plane.
2. SPECT images are high resolution and have better separation of overlapping myocardial segments, which provides more specific information about cardiac muscle function.
3. SPECT images can be correlated with the ECG to assess ventricular wall motion, which assesses the effectiveness of the heart muscle.

Rationale: SPECT images display three views of the heart instead of on a single plane. SPECT images are obtained with a rotating gamma camera that stops at preset angles to record images, which results in views of the heart on three different axes instead of one plane. SPECT images are high resolution and have better separation of overlapping myocardial segments, which provides more specific information about cardiac muscle function. SPECT provides high resolution and better separation of overlapping myocardial segments, which provides more specific information about cardiac muscle function. SPECT images can be correlated with the ECG to assess ventricular wall motion, which assesses the effectiveness of the heart muscle. SPECT images can be used with the gating technique, which allows for more accurate interpretation because the perfusion image can be correlated with the gated image of ventricular contraction. SPECT is an accurate depiction of the electrical activity of the heart. SPECT does not provide information about the electrical activity of the heart. The ECG provides that information. SPECT gives specific information about percent of coronary artery occlusion. Heart catheterization provides information about the percent occlusion of the coronary arteries.