Final answer:
A positive finding for ischemia in a stress echocardiography includes new or worsening wall motion abnormalities that indicate areas of the heart muscle receiving insufficient blood flow during stress. This method complements other tests like ECG or blood markers such as cardiac troponin to diagnose myocardial ischemia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Positive findings for ischemia in stress echocardiography primarily include new or worsening wall motion abnormalities during or after exercise or pharmacological stress. These wall motion changes occur when there is inadequate blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle, which can be a result of coronary artery disease or myocardial ischemia. During a stress echocardiogram, the heart's pumping action is visualized in real-time, allowing for the assessment of both the heart's structure and its functional response to stress. The echocardiogram may show areas where the heart muscle is not moving properly, suggesting that the affected tissue is not receiving enough oxygen-rich blood.
Other diagnostic tools such as an ECG or blood tests like creatine kinase MB and cardiac troponin levels may also be used to confirm findings. An ECG, for example, may show ST-segment changes like elevation or depression, or an altered Q wave, indicative of a myocardial infarction (MI). However, an echocardiogram provides additional information related to the movement of the heart's walls, which is important for diagnosing areas of ischemia that an ECG might not detect.
In conclusion, a positive stress echocardiography result for ischemia occurs when there are new or worsening wall motion irregularities, which reflect areas of the heart muscle that are under strain or not receiving enough blood flow during stress.