Never use a Cardiologist only a EP

I will not go into long detail but never let a cardiologist implant a pacemaker. It is sad there are no official ratings on doctors successful procedures. It does not cost a penny more for the best and the best hospital with your insurance. I do believe they are becoming aware of having the best do it once correct the 1st time is much cheaper than redo's.

I had between July 1 and August 15---- 6 pacemaker surgeries. I let my cardiologist do the 1st 2 and the lead did not last a day either time and it felt like I was hit with a sledge hammer in the shoulder. Had a EP come in from out of town to fix the mess. He told me he had never failed to have a lead stick. His work was meticulous. But being opened so many times and already having a mild infection. The cardiologist wanted me to let him go at me again remove the pacemaker and implant from the right side. I refused and told him the EP would be doing all the work. He slammed a few doors.


I went to Austin to have my EP do his magic at ST. Davids hospital. I had cracked the code Talked to stress test people, admitting nurses, cardiology nurses. This EP was one of the best in the nation and the hospital had 10 years in a row been voted into the top 100. Anyway From admission to surgery was a perfect process. Surgery was about 1 hour and 45 min. They pulled the old one out put the new one in on the right side. I came awake looked at scar felt no pain had no swelling on the right side. Left was filled with gauze and chemicals to kill all infection. It felt no worse than it did from the 1st surgery. I was amazed if I had used the EP in the 1st place I would be all healed without any pain.

I had to go back a week later for closure of the left side. Same process amazing speed and efficiency. I was out in 25 minutes. I never knew I was in surgery.


Now my 1st cardiologist gave me local shots around pacemaker that hurt like hell. I hurt the entire time I could hear tearing flesh and their conversation. It was a nightmare. Maybe in other states where malpractice suites can exceed $ 250,000.00 damaging patient doctors are weeded out by cost of insurance. But in Texas unless the doctor is drunk and kills you no lawyer will take the case. I asked a few.

9 Comments

Texas law

by jpotts - 2014-09-02 03:09:17

With the negative public mindset against medical malpractice lawsuits, Texas’ overly strict tort reform, and the complexity of an injury lawsuit, you are essentially going up against an opponent who is almost untouchable.


This was written by a law firm in Texas.

So why use a Cardiologist when a EP is the same cost and so are top rated hospitals.


Also to be brazen the Cardiologist sent me a certified letter that I was no longer a patient. Guess my Plumber wanted to play Electrician real bad.

I didn't have time...

by valley01 - 2014-09-02 03:09:51

to research or ask for any specific specialty. I went into ER for VT and ended up having an ablation and again several days later I was back in the ER with severe bradycardia. The first time I got an EP that I was scheduled to see in another week anyway because I passed out 2 months earlier and was referred to the Heart Center but I had never met him before my ablation. He was on call with the hospital that day and seen my name come across the admittance to the ER and recognized it from having reviewed my medical history from the referral so he came right down and worked with the ER doctors to determine what was going on. Several days later he was not on call for the PM surgery so I ended up with his partner. Both did excellent jobs. Despite having heart issues I felt very lucky being in the right place with the right people caring for me.

Your state is self governing

by jpotts - 2014-09-02 04:09:33

http://www.ortopedapr.org/legales/Medical-Malpractice-Laws-by-State.pdf

pg 32


No liability limits.

That means their medical malpractice insurance weeds out the bad ones. So yeah a cardiologist would have to be super competent in your state to do pacemakers. When potentially facing a several million dollar lawsuit.

Texas

by bluebowtye - 2014-09-02 04:09:40

I guess I'm glad I live in IA and not in TX because when I first went to my GP after fainting twice in one night (my only symptoms) she had me do a bunch of tests and when it was determined my right ventricle was enlarged she referred me to a cardiologist (there is no EP at my clinic and only 1 in my town). After I saw him and had more tests including wearing a 24 hour holter monitor he is the one who told me I needed a PM. This all happened in a matter of 2 weeks so I had very little time to do any research about other clinics / hospitals (I was not going to drive an hour away in the middle of winter) and did not know any thing about EP's so I had to trust my cardiologist and I'm thankful he knew what he was doing when he did my implant.

Funny thing is, after learning of EP's from this forum I did a search for ones in my town and my cardiologist actually had better reviews then the one EP I found.

I'm sorry you had so many problems, but I still don't think it's fair to say ALL cardiologists are incompetent.

I saw a post from someone a few days ago and she said she thinks a lot depends on where you live because she had never heard of an EP before her implant either and I agree with that.

~Sheila



different service in different countries

by Pacemum - 2014-09-02 05:09:49

Here in the UK all our children have their pacemakers implanted by either cardiologists who specialize in EP or the heart surgeons.

depends

by Tracey_E - 2014-09-02 09:09:32

I've been a cardiac patient since before they had board certified ep's :) I've never had a problem, tho my cardio has never done my surgeries. First he sent me to a cardiac surgeon, then more recently ep. But all my follow up is with my cardio. It all depends on the drs, some are going to be better than others. It's up to us to be our own advocates and ask the questions.

my cardiologist...

by bluebowtye - 2014-09-02 10:09:36

did a fantastic job. They are not all bad. I have had no problems or complaints whatsoever. I had never even heard of an EP until I found this site and that was after my surgery. I agree, you need to be your own advocate and ask questions but I do think it's unfair to label all cardiologists as incompetent or bad. Anytime you have surgery you are taking a risk and sometimes complications can arise no matter who does it.

~Sheila

Questions

by Energy - 2014-09-02 12:09:50

Sometimes you don't even know the questions to ask... That is why this site is so educational.

EP

by Marie12 - 2014-09-03 07:09:31

I waited in the hospital for the only EP in my Province to return from vacation. During that time, I was looked after by five cardiologist/surgeons and not one would do the procedure. They even looked at sending me to another Province but it would only have saved two days. It made me feel good that even they felt it should be the EP.

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My pacemaker has ultimately saved mine and my unborn child’s life for which I am thankful.