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Steve, there are all levels of these tests. They can even stick probes down there and try to push it open if you want. The test you had would show a defect or a glaring PFO, but not a subtle one. The bubbles are better. Here is the deal: if you had a glaring PFO or other shunt, you would not be able to do any dive without getting wacked. The more subtle ones may require a huge build of up bubbles in the lungs to raise the pressure enough to open the PFO - and that is most likely in an emergency situation that is the worst time to find out. Trey wrote: > > Subject: PFO test question and comment (fwd) > Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 20:31:30 -0500 (EST) > From: Steve Schultz <se2schul@un*.ma*.uw*.ca*> > To: trey@ne*.co* > > answer this on the list, thanks George. > > ss > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 16:56:03 -0500 (EST) > From: Steve Schultz <se2schul@ma*.ma*.uw*.ca*> > To: techdiver@aquanaut.com > Subject: PFO test question and comment > > I had a bad experience recently when I went to get tested for PFO. They > tested me for the wrong thing - PDA, and then agreed to redo the test. > This was due to an incompetant doctor and lab technician that didn't > really know what a PFO was. > > I went back recently and told them the exact procedure that they should > have followed which was inject saline that has been shaken up in air > several times into a vein. It is rapidly injected, first while breathing > normally. the procedure is then repeated six times, while exhaling hard > agains a closed glottis. this raises the pressure in the right atrium and > will cause a jet of bubbles to go from right to left across a PFO. > > THEY DIDN"T TO THIS > > What they did when repeating the test did not involve the injection of any > saline. They performed the 2D echo on me while I held my breath, but > pushed or contracted like taking a crap. She said that doing this would > raise the pressure in the attrium and detect a PFO. > > My question is this: Is that enough of a test, or do I have to do the > procedure that I outlined above?? > > BTW, anyone who wants a PFO test done with the saline as I described above > should NOT ask for a PFO test, but rather a Bubble study, a saline > injection study, or a contrast study. Make sure your doctor and > technician know someting about what is going on. > > Steve -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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