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[angiogram and electrophysiology study]
Author: ira leichter (---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: 12-18-01 23:24
I have HCM. I'm scheduled to have a angeogram and electrophysiooly study next week. Has anyone gone through this where both are performed one after the other?
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[Re: angiogram and electrophysiology study]
Author: Kelly (---.wat.localline.com)
Date: 12-29-01 12:36
No, I have never had these procedures performed on me, but I am a cardiac/electrphysiology (EP) nurse and can hopefully offer you some insight. When possible, these two tests are best done simultaneously. One reason for this is b/c your cardiologist can access your heart for both procedures the same way; through a small "puncture" over one of your arteries, either your femoral (where you hip bends) or brachial (where your elbow bends). Since this puncture wound has its own complications, such as infection or bleeding, it is best to limit the number of instances when possible, decreasing your risks. There are other issues as well, such as trips back into the hospital, timelines, etc. If you are in good health, opting for both procedures together would be wise.
My father-in-law and and brother-in-law both have HOCM. My father-in-law has already had a myotomy (done several years ago) and recently has recieved a defibrillator (ICD). Between the research done for this and my background as an electrophysiology nurse, I have acquired quite a bit of knowledge about these topics. I certainly don't know everything, but I do have great resources! Please let me know if I can offer you any other info.
PS- The EP doctor that I work with told my father-in-law during a visit that an EPstudy that does not reveal arrhythmias does not necessarily meant that the HOCM patient is not at an increase risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Therefor, an EP study was not even performed prior to the implant of my father-in-law's ICD. There are certain determinents for those patients who would automatically qualify for an ICD, such as a history or ventricular tachycardia, family history of death due to HOCM, etc.
Good luck!! Kelly
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[Re: angiogram and electrophysiology study]
Author: beckley (---.dsl.mindspring.com)
Date: 01-01-02 16:37
Dear Ira,
I've had the EPS, but not an angiogram. However, it is common to do them together. Just tell them that you want to be oblivious when they do the procedure. You have to be "awake" but that doesn't mean you have to care what is happening or remember it afterwards --valium is the best stuff for this kind of procedure --trust me, I know of what I speak!
Afterwards, you will probably have sunburn-like marks on your chest from the EPS part and your groin will be sore from the incision. You will need to lie still for several hours after to make sure it doesn't open up. Ideally, you won't remember any of the actual tests. I didn't and I didn't have any problems after, either.
They told me they might put in a defibrillator, too, but they didn't have to. The whole point of the EPS is to try and force potentially fatal arrhythmias out of your heart. if they do, they put the defibrillator in there so it will kick in to keep you from having a heart attack--this is what they did to VP Dick Cheney. However, it is highly possible that you won't need one at all--I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Sarah
Author: ira leichter (---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: 12-18-01 23:24
I have HCM. I'm scheduled to have a angeogram and electrophysiooly study next week. Has anyone gone through this where both are performed one after the other?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: angiogram and electrophysiology study]
Author: Kelly (---.wat.localline.com)
Date: 12-29-01 12:36
No, I have never had these procedures performed on me, but I am a cardiac/electrphysiology (EP) nurse and can hopefully offer you some insight. When possible, these two tests are best done simultaneously. One reason for this is b/c your cardiologist can access your heart for both procedures the same way; through a small "puncture" over one of your arteries, either your femoral (where you hip bends) or brachial (where your elbow bends). Since this puncture wound has its own complications, such as infection or bleeding, it is best to limit the number of instances when possible, decreasing your risks. There are other issues as well, such as trips back into the hospital, timelines, etc. If you are in good health, opting for both procedures together would be wise.
My father-in-law and and brother-in-law both have HOCM. My father-in-law has already had a myotomy (done several years ago) and recently has recieved a defibrillator (ICD). Between the research done for this and my background as an electrophysiology nurse, I have acquired quite a bit of knowledge about these topics. I certainly don't know everything, but I do have great resources! Please let me know if I can offer you any other info.
PS- The EP doctor that I work with told my father-in-law during a visit that an EPstudy that does not reveal arrhythmias does not necessarily meant that the HOCM patient is not at an increase risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Therefor, an EP study was not even performed prior to the implant of my father-in-law's ICD. There are certain determinents for those patients who would automatically qualify for an ICD, such as a history or ventricular tachycardia, family history of death due to HOCM, etc.
Good luck!! Kelly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: angiogram and electrophysiology study]
Author: beckley (---.dsl.mindspring.com)
Date: 01-01-02 16:37
Dear Ira,
I've had the EPS, but not an angiogram. However, it is common to do them together. Just tell them that you want to be oblivious when they do the procedure. You have to be "awake" but that doesn't mean you have to care what is happening or remember it afterwards --valium is the best stuff for this kind of procedure --trust me, I know of what I speak!
Afterwards, you will probably have sunburn-like marks on your chest from the EPS part and your groin will be sore from the incision. You will need to lie still for several hours after to make sure it doesn't open up. Ideally, you won't remember any of the actual tests. I didn't and I didn't have any problems after, either.
They told me they might put in a defibrillator, too, but they didn't have to. The whole point of the EPS is to try and force potentially fatal arrhythmias out of your heart. if they do, they put the defibrillator in there so it will kick in to keep you from having a heart attack--this is what they did to VP Dick Cheney. However, it is highly possible that you won't need one at all--I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Sarah