Check ups

Just a general question my husband is due to have routine check up on his ICD next week,and we assumed it would be cancelled as we currently in Lockdown here in the UK and he has a home monitor and Bev did attend an appointment last July.The hospital telephoned him and said still come to the appointment as they need to get a ‘broader picture ‘-anyone any idea what this could mean ?


4 Comments

appointments

by Tracey_E - 2021-01-13 09:56:22

They can view what his device has been doing with the remote monitor but can't get an ecg or make any changes unless they see him in person. 

They may want to check capture, etc. by varying settings

by crustyg - 2021-01-13 10:55:47

As Tracey_E explains they may want to check some of the capture settings - for some devices the auto-calibration feature is unavailable or turned off - which means that they need to change the actual settings for a few seconds, and this can't be done remotely.

For me, there's the usual 'this will feel slightly weird' and they then drive my HR up, to check that the PM is still capturing (very low voltage and pulse-width settings, so failure to capture at high HR is possible) and then they stop pacing completely as they want to see if I have an escape rhythm in case my atrial pacing fails (AAIR) - again, can't be done remotely.

With proper hand sanitising, face masks, etc., it should be no greater risk than going out to purchase food.  If, however you are *shielding* that's different.

Check up

by Sylvia1 - 2021-01-13 18:22:45

Thanks for your responses-just bit worrying when you shielding and going into the local hospital that rife with Covid apparently.Hopefully he will just get in and out as soon as possible.They were pretty insistent when they called for him to have his device checked so will just have to wait and see

separate

by Tracey_E - 2021-01-14 09:56:39

Most hospitals keep covid patients, or anyone who might even remotely be considered a covid patient, very separate from everyone else. I've had 2 check ups, a few tests, and one trip to the ER, all in different places, since this started. Each time, I was temperature screened and they asked questions about my health and exposure before even letting me in the door. The staff doesn't want to get exposed any more than you do, most are hyper diligent. I felt safer than usual because now anyone with a fever or any sign of illness is isolated, not sitting next to me. 

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