Cardiac Clearance for Surgery-- What does it consist of?

I'm completing the last of my pre-surgery requirements and am curious to hear about the cardiac clearance test. 

What is it?  How long does it take? 

Thanks

I think it depends on if you have any history of cardiac issues, for me with no previous issues, I had to have a stress test, and an echocardio gram, that was all as I passed both of those tests with no problems at all.  good luck

Depends on your history.

For me, it was just EKG and chest xray.

Mine consisted of only an EKG and a few medical history questions.  45 minutes and done.
 

My was a little more intense. I have a 50% blockage of my left anterial desending artery on my heart (commonly refered o as a "Widow Maker" in the medical world). Luckily, I have a stint holding it open. I had to take a Nuclear Test combined with a Treadmill Stress Test. Then I had to follow that with a Resting Heart Echo.

If you have no history of heart problems in your family you will porbally have a lot less done. Good Luck!!!

Kevin

I so flunked!  I had the echo and ended up having a cardio cather and showed 80% blockage and they were talking open heart and I so lucked out with 3 stents in my heart and about six months later I got cleared after a second cardio cather and the doc that examined me before surgery pre admin diagnosed me with sleep apnea and I had to log 200 hours on the machine before they would do my surgery.  Better safe than sorry.  And if I was not going in for the gastric I would have never known I had 80 % blockage.  Talk about weird.  Once you have the echo and you are found to be okay the clearance doesn't take long. I had to take 2 stress tests in less than 6 months and the first one before heart surgery I thought I was going to pass out and the second one after surgery was much better, Its not a big deal if all goes well. 

I had three surgeries last year.  One for a broken nose (plastic surgeon), one for ankle reconstruction (podiatrist) and the Lap Band/gallbladder removal (general surgeon with bariatric practice).  I had two EKGs for the three surgeries in my PCP's office, where she had blood pulled and I provided urine for the rest of the lab work.  With a sole exception, the cardiac clearances and required labs were virtually identical for all procedures; the WLS surgery also required HIV testing.

The whole kit and caboodle of the EKG and blood drawing took less than 10 minutes, with the doctor appointment taking about the same.

Lisa

Hi...I recently had my cardiac clearance...I first filled out paperwork, talked to the cardiologist about the WLS & my history, had an EKG at his office & he then examined me. He suggested I get an echocardiogram prior to his approving the surgery. I was lucky that he had all the machines there at his office, so I had it done right away. He reviewed the echo results in 2 minutes & said I didn't need a stress test since all was ok. He then told me I was approved & he would fax a letter to my surgeon that day. It all took about 1.5 hrs. Hope this helps
Diane

For me it started out with an EKG. I was told that my EKG was abnormal...what? So I had to have a Ecogram on my heart and was told that everything was fine. The hear clearance is to check to makesure your heart is able to with stand surgery. I hope this helps!

MINE was A 20 second EKG ,$ 20.00 co-pay and a twenty minute drive...easy!!
TED