What is an Exercise MUGA?
An exercise MUGA is a test that measures how strong the heart is pumping at rest and during exercise. Ordinarily, when a person exercises the heart responds by pumping out more blood with each beat. To do this test, a special type of x-ray machine is used that takes a rapid series of pictures of the heart both at rest and during exercise. A radioactive substance called a tracer is given into an IV twice during the test, about 15 minutes apart. The tracer helps to create the pictures that are taken. The amount of radiation involved is small, about the same amount as two regular chest x-rays. There is a minimal amount of pain with this test. When the child comes to the clinic, a numbing cream can be placed on the skin so that the child does not have pain when the IV is placed. The injections do sting as they are given but the rest of the test is painless. The tracer is passed out the body through the urine within 24 hours after the test is completed. Complications from this test are very
