Concerned

It won't be affected

by crustyg - 2024-08-24 18:12:55

Colonoscopy will have no impact even if they have to use diathermy.  Gastroscopy might need your device put into safe mode if they are planning to use diathermy.

Hi

by Lavender - 2024-08-24 19:01:58

I'm 100% dependent on my CRT-P. I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy with no problem at all. 

It shouldn't affect your pacemaker but an endoscopy procedure “might” affect you

by Gemita - 2024-08-25 04:55:12

Mark, I have had many endoscopies, endoscopies that were primarily for ongoing surveillance of my swallowing difficulties due to a long, narrow oesophagus and to determine whether any further therapies might be needed.  

I sometimes require dilatation.  Unless specific treatments are required during endoscopy, like a biopsy or perhaps needing treatment to stop a small bleed, you shouldn’t need any specific assistance just because you have a pacemaker.  However if diathermy is needed, as crustyg says, you might need a cardiac technician on hand to adjust your pacemaker settings by placing in a safe mode for the duration of your procedure. Worth asking about this beforehand in case it is required?

I am not suggesting that you will need a biopsy but if they were to find an area of tissue that looks suspicious for any inflammatory or other disease, they might need to remove a small area for further analysis at the time of your endoscopy.  I have had biopsies which resulted in a minor bleed and I have to say this did cause difficult symptoms (arrhythmias) at the time.  

It would perhaps be wise to ask your cardiac/endoscopy team whether someone could be on hand in case you needed any help with your pacemaker.  My cardiologist also recommends I take additional rate control medication, to help control a fast heart rate during endoscopy.  While your endoscopy team will be able to watch your heart rhythm and rate, they cannot help with your pacemaker settings should you require any Settings adjustments.  

More generally, it has to be remembered that the lower esophagus lies directly behind your heart, so an endoscopy procedure could trigger some unwanted heart rhythm disturbances because of the proximity of the oesophagus to the heart.  As you may know, there is a strong heart/gut connection because of this and also due to the fact that the heart and the oesophagus share the same nerve pathway - the vagus nerve.  Perhaps this is one of the reasons why your doctors have requested an endoscopy?  Your gut health is closely tied to your heart health and both systems communicate with each other. 

Looking closely at your oesophagus will give doctors good information Mark, to look for any gastric causes for your difficult to treat arrhythmias.  Treatment of any gastric conditions could well help your rhythm disturbances, so it is important that you go ahead with this procedure if it has been indicated and recommended by your medical teams.  Good luck and please don't worry.  An endoscopy is a very safe procedure in experienced hands