Going tech - Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) testing?

[rjack321]

Im not sure that’s accurate.

TCD can't separate a pulmonary from a cardiac shunt - except that the injected bubble load is rather small so less likely to pass the lungs unless its a dramatic shunt. But here are some guidelines and discussion on possibly differentiating these two shunt types.

Methodological Remarks on Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography for PFO Detection | Anesthesiology | ASA Publications
Methodological Remarks on Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography for PFO Detection | Anesthesiology | ASA Publications

 

[PfcAJ]

TCD can't separate a pulmonary from a cardiac shunt - except that the injected bubble load is rather small so less likely to pass the lungs unless its a dramatic shunt. But here are some guidelines and discussion on possibly differentiating these two shunt types.

Methodological Remarks on Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography for PFO Detection | Anesthesiology | ASA Publications
Methodological Remarks on Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography for PFO Detection | Anesthesiology | ASA Publications

It will detect it but not differentiate it.

I think we have an accord

 

[Blackcrusader]

The responses in this thread are gold!

So, the general consensus seems to be to wait for symptoms until you think about getting tested. I like this approach especially if I believe the idea that a PFO != DCI necessarily. Practically, I don't have time to book an appointment with a cardiologist before I start tech training anyway, so if I get bent, I'll get bent.

I will to the TDI ANDP course this year. I will be 62 by the time I do the course. Last week I went to see a heart specialist and asked to get my heart checked and to do PFO test. So last week he took an xray of my chest and did a short test of listening to my heart function. Today I did and exertion test where you get hooked up to several electrodes and get inspected detected but no injections.
I also take some high blood pressure pills everyday but it's just above normal without.

I was made to lie down and test for several minutes before the test, my heart rate went down to 58 and my blood pressure 118 / 60.
Then you get up on a GE T2100 exercise machine and start with a slow walk. Each test runs for 6 minutes. After the walking slow walk did 3 more faster tests, where my heart beat was measured at 120bpm, next test 135bpm and final test 150bpm. Blood pressure climbed to 130/80 After this I went down to get my heart screened with a ultra sound test where they apply some oil and a technician scans your heart to see if any holes are detected. Nice to see that muscle pumping away on the screen. No holes for the front of my heart but the back they could not see so going back in 3 days and doing an invasive test where a tube goes in. I was told that will be a little uncomfortable.

BTW each visit for this costs me NT$340 in Taiwan covered under National Health Insurance. Each visit less than US$ 12.00. In Taiwan you can book directly with a heart specialist of your choice and you don't need to see a general GP first. Of course all the other patients that were there had heart issues. Healthy people normally don't visit a heart specialist. The specialist will also give me the test results and a certificate for my instructor saying I have been tested and cleared for PFO and have a healthy heart. Will also send a copy to DAN for my insurance as well.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Hello, this is an important subject.
There are very good reasons why TTE with bubble contrast (and not TCD) has been identified as the preferred test for a PFO by all the world`s major diving medical societies [1,2]

OK So this is what I went through today. First the nurse needed to find a vein to put in a plug. The testing doctor asked me if I was doing the test from having migraines and I replied it was for diving.

Once that was done then I was sprayed in the throat with an Anaesthetic and that was done twice. You get a weird sensation trying to control if you can swallow. So after awhile a mouthpiece goes into your mouth and your teeth hold it in place. Then the uncomfortable part if having a long tube inserted I was able to not gag and also to spit out drool. I was lying on my left side and you can see your heart a pumping on the monitor. Also at times the monitor and heart had different colors appear during the tests. The bubble test also performed. One thing the doctor did mention to me before the test is that when he pressed into my lower stomach he wanted me to use my breath to push back. This is done so the PFO test is done with exerted pressure. This was done a few times.
Why did I take the test? Two reasons one is because I had actually planned on doing so for some time and second the cost in Taiwan under the health insurance everyone has here makes if cheap at US$12 for each visit. I also wanted to know the condition of my heart in general and the specialist said I have a very healthy heart. In my 60's don't want to be on a dive having a heart issue on a dive.
Post test your throat will be pretty sore I am about 10 hours post test and still sore.

So now I have a medical certificate I will provide to my TDI ANDP instructor and also give to DAN when renewing my insurance.

The next time some person makes a comment that due to my large size and being in an age group of being a heart attack victim I will ask them how could they know about my health status and when was the last time they did a PFO test lol