Shunt Study

What is a Shunt Study?

Pulmonary shunt is a condition where the blood vessels bypass your lungs causing a lower-than-normal level of oxygen in the blood. This test will determine if you have a pulmonary shunt and its severity. The test will take approximately 60 minutes.

Preparing for your test

• Avoid wearing perfume or cologne as some of our patients’ symptoms are triggered by strong smells.
• Withhold from smoking on the day of your test.
• Avoid vigorous exercise for 1 hour prior to your test.

The test

• You will be asked to sit in a chair and a device that clips on to your finger, ear or forehead will be used to measure your oxygen levels.
• A soft nose-clip will be put on your nose, and you will be asked to breathe through a mouthpiece that is connected to a bag that contains 100% oxygen for approximately 25 minutes. Your oxygen levels will be continuously monitored throughout this time.
• After approximately 20 minutes, while you are still breathing 100% oxygen, an arterial blood sample will be taken from your wrist.
• Once the results from the blood sample are confirmed as arterial, you will be free to go, and the scientists will use the results to calculate if you have a pulmonary shunt.