ENDOSCOPY AND PACEMAKERS

Hi all, I’ve been away for awhile and fortunately that means my generator replacement last year healed without complications and life went on.

today I have a question please.  I am scheduled for the dreaded colonoscopy and EGD  next month and because I have a pacemaker the GI doctor wants me to have it done in  the hospital setting and not in an outpatient center.  Any of you had a recent scope ( top and bottom) and if so what were your experiences?  Did the PM impact it any way? Especially with regard to biopsies?  

Thanks,

Carol

5 Comments

colonoscopy

by Shell - 2018-02-11 14:40:41

I've have a couple colonoscopys done since I've gotten my pacemaker with no issues. They were done on an outpatient patient at the hospital only because thats the only place my doctor does them. He knows I have a pacemaker but I dont think anything special was doen.

Ask your doctor why

by Gotrhythm - 2018-02-11 15:21:40

All sorts of people have all sorts of tests, procedures, and even surgery, and having a pacemaker makes no difference at all-except possibly to make the procedure safer. After all, our heartrate is not going to fall or stop as a reaction to anesthesia!

I'm not saying your doctor is wrong, but I find that some doctors (particularly non-cardiologists) are not always up to date about how safe and reliable today's pacemakers are, and so react with an over-abundance of caution.

Ask your doctor for his/her reasons. The better you understand your condition and the rationale for any treatment, the better.

Thanks for your input

by Carol - 2018-02-11 16:11:48

My take on it is it makes the GI doctor’s a little nervous if you have a PM and in case something would go wrong I’m right there in the hospital.  They actually made me get cardiac clearance from my EP who of course gave his blessings.  I’m a nurse and I think doctors are crazy fearful of lawsuits so they make sure to cover all bases.  Guess that’s ok makes it safer for us.  I did forget to mention that d/t my insurance through the hospital system where I work- i have to have it done in the hospital to get most Ins coverage.

Electrocautery

by Grateful Heart - 2018-02-11 19:05:22

That is the concern.  If during the colonoscopy they discover a polyp or two they remove it right away whenever possible....with electrocautery.  

Some don't seem to have a problem with it but....You won't know until after the fact if the electrocautery interfered with your PM.  There's been a few on this site.  A parent whose child needed a new PM after an appendix surgery because his PM was shorted due to electrocautery, so now he needed a 2nd surgery for a new PM. 

Your doctor is looking out for you.  My Gastro and Cardio require a device rep be present to shut off my defib before and turn it back on afterwards as well as check the settings after the procedure to make sure they didn't change....which can also happen with the electrocurrent.  

I've had enough issues with my device in the past so I appreciate their caution.

Talk to your doc....and good luck with the procedures.

Grateful Heart

Electrcautery

by Carol - 2018-02-11 20:39:52

Yep I believe you’re right Grateful Heart.  I have a pacer check scheduled this Wednesday and will ask them about it then. There is always the chance that something is found that must be biopsied and I sure as heck don’t want it messing up my settings- took too long to finally get them right.

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