Quote: (Originally Posted by Simon TW)
I had the test for a PFO on Wednesday. it was the scan of the heart while a solution of gassed saline was injected into the blood stream. I was expecting the swallow a thing while they send echos method but they assured me that this was all that was needed. (I know one is called TEE and one TTE but not sure which way without searching)
I have to wait for the officail results but the consensus seemed to be that I was clear.
Now being "Clear" for a PFO is on one hand a good thing as it won't impinge on my diving but on the other hand I still don't know why I got bent.
Simon TW
While I'm sure the doc who performed your c-TTE (contrast trans thoracic echo) mentioned this, the negative test result doesn't necessarily mean you are "Clear for a PFO". The c-TEE (or c-TOE, same thing, just different spelling of oesophageal) approach, while still not perfect is a more sensitive test.
As an example, a paper by Cartoni et al (1) shows c-TTE had a negative predictive value of only 81% when compared to c-TEE in detecting PFO. I've only been doing TOE's (TEE) for 6 months now, but my senior colleagues agree that the 80% negative predicitive value number sounds about right.
To echo earlier comments, even if the test had been positive for a PFO, it may not have been the culprit.
Very happy to hear your recovery has gone well.
Greg
(1) Cartoni D et al. Identification of Professional Scuba Divers With Patent Foramen Ovale at Risk for Decompression Illness, American Journal of Cardiology, 94:July 15, 2004