This could be in the WCMO thread.
I've been referred by my cardiologist to an electrical physiologist for assessment and likely to have, a cardiac ablation procedure for afib/flutter. ATM its controlled with amiodarone, which is a nasty thing and not good for long term.
My referring cardiologist went through the procedure with me, talked about the or some risks, showed an animation etc and I left that pretty optimistic.
Before I saw the Electro-phys, I emailed a mate in Canada who has had the procedure 4 times (a very exceptional case) and asked him 'what questions should I ask; what are the risks you've learned?'
So I see the electro-phys. He was later described to me as being 'probably on the spectrum' and that's exactly what it seemed to me, in as much as the consult was 'odd'. I explained that I was very sensitive to properly understanding the risks, and, importantly, what happens next if any of those risks eventuate, as a result of problems with this in previous surgeries. He rather briefly, I thought, explained the procedure, the risks etc. But this was far short of what I had learned from my cardiologist and my mate. No mention of the catheter having to penetrate the arial septum; no mention of the risk of possibly burning through to the oesophagus, which can have catastrophic consequences. I pulled him up on those, and some other things and then he did go through them.
Most of this time he was writing scripts, typing into his computer. I had to ask him to stop that so we can have a proper conversation.
He gives me a photocopy of 'about cardiac ablation' from the Hobart Private Hospital, which, after I read it later, realised was a bit of a joke, so superficial and again, deficient in talking about risks and even the procedure.
Anyway, the electro-phys then slides a consent form across for me to sign; have had risks explained to me, I accept etc etc. I decline, saying I was in no way properly informed yet. OK, he says, we can do it on the day. Damn right!
I left that consult pretty worried and doubting that I'd agree to have the procedure. What else hadn't he mentioned? I felt like a sausage - see prospective patient, tell them enough to get them into it, get consent, do the op - next!
So I had a tele consult with my cardiologist (who is great, and I trust completely) about what happened and again to ask about the risks etc. I left that re-assured and, importantly, that the electro-phys was a good operator.
(BTW as a minor point, I shaved and dressed well to see this guy - just out of respect. He didn't reciprocate - unshaved, very casually dressed; I thought really? This guy's' going to stick a couple of probes into my heart and do some burning? Oh, and, I realised later, no mention of costs.)
I could have the procedure done in Melbourne, but then I would know zero about the guy, so better the devil I know a bit about.
