False Positive stress test

[missyblue260]

I have had no chest pains and have felt fine.  My GP ordered EKG because I am over 40, that was abnormal, I then had stress test which showed blockage.  On Tuesday I underwent heart catherization and was found to be a false positive.  I don't know what to do now.  Again I feel fine but I am now very sceptical of any test results.  I have diabetes and my father died from a massive heart attack at the age of 54 so I don't want to dismiss test results but am not sure of my next course of action.  Is there a test that is more reliable?


This discussion is related to A false Positive result.

[kenkeith]

I agree with Jon the selectivity and sensitivy is not very good for much other than electrical (rhythm) disorders.  Big jump from EKG to a cath...there almost has to be some evidence or believe for ischemia (pathologically decrease in blood/oxygen flow).

[erijon]

An echo would be nice, but keep in mind that an abnormal EKG is very often the result of an incorrect placement of a lead. That happened to me on my last EKG as well, leads were replaced and everything was fine. One thing to remember is that the echo will be looking at your heart structure. If you were sent for something as drastic as a cath it would have been because your doctor suspected something on the EKG  represented the possibility of some coronary artery disease or a previous MI with muscle damage, both of which would have shown up on a cath. I find it difficult to believe that your doctor would have gone directly to a cath if he saw something on an EKG that may have been related to the electrical pathways or structure of your heart, especially if you are feeling fine as you say.

You should have him clarify what the abnormality was. You can then make an educated decision. If it were me and I was feeling good and had a clear cath, I would be very happy!

Good luck!

Jon

[ed34]

I am concerned that the EKG was abnormal. In what way was it abnormal?
An EKG basically measures the electrical impulses across the chambers of the heart and a lot can be discovered from this, but not everything.
A Cath is only good for seeing inside the Coronary Arteries, it does not show the condition of valves and chambers. To be absolutely sure, I think you should have an echocardiogram. This will see the heart functioning and how each chamber is behaving and how each of the four valves are performing. There are 3D echo machines in many hospitals now and the images are amazing. It will also allow the operator to measure the wall thicknesses and the chamber sizes as well as the efficiency of the heart.

[erijon]

Nothing is more accurate than a cath, if it was clear you're in good shape as it is 100% accurate.

Congrats!

Jon