Pericarditis and coronary arteries

[Westie2012]

I have two cardiologists, one that fitted my pacemaker and one that I saw when I was in hospital with pericarditis and an effusion . I’ve had a follow up appointment with the cardiologist about how the infection is going and he wanted me to have a ct angiogram to check if the infection had affected my coronary arteries which I was a bit concerned about. I enquired when I would be having the ct scan and the cardiologist that looks after the pacemaker side of things doesn’t want me to have the scan as I’ve had lots of X-rays in December due to three hospital admissions with the infection and needing a wire replaced . How would I know if the arteries have been affected? I’m waiting on follow up appointments with both cardiologists but don’t know when .

[Sunnie2day]

It's not the most fun you'll ever have but if you can get the cardiologists to agree an angiogram and simultaneous 'right heart study' (not fun as they'll go in through your wrist and groin), it gives them a very good picture of any affect the pericarditis may have caused your coronaries.

I was not at all keen to have the dual procedures but my cardiologist pointed out the tests are 'solid gold standard' even better than an MRI or CT scan plus waiting for the CT scan could be months down the line but he could get the cath lab for the angio within three weeks...that was Nov 2019 so things may be less quick now with Covid delays.

All questions answered with the two procedures, recovery was relatively quick (took weeks for the bruising to fade but the slight aches were gone in a week) and in the end it put my mind greatly to rest - especially as the result was 'crystal clear arteries' and good function (right heart study).