Can you have an EP Study after an ICD is implanted?

I just seen a cardiologist today who highly suggested I get a pacemaker and, because of circumstances, may as well go with the defibrillator also.  I just finished wearing a monitor for 2 1/2 weeks for bradycardia.  My heartrate keeps dropping more all the time and is down around 30-33 most all night now and in the low 40's during the day when I'm at my desk.  Since I only exercise an hour a day (20 minutes jogigng and the rest calisthentics), he didn't feel that this is a good bpm.  Since my son and brother both suffered sudden death, he thought I may as well consider the defbrillator even though I didn't have any bad rythm's with the monitor.  My son had a blood test done to test for short qt that showed a mutation but it appears to be a mutation that hasn't been seen before and they are still studying it.  I think I remember when my son had the scd, his cardio mentioned that he'd do the ep study before placing the defibrillator because they wouldn't be able to do it after placing it.  Am I remembering this correctly?  I'm thinking that I am going to get this same blood test done to verify positively as to whether this gene came from me and also to confirm what my brother died from.  I only had minor bad arrythmia's and a little a-fib and the arrythmia's are always induced by taking an antihistimine.  If I have the same mutation and they want to try to create an arrythmia for diagnosis, can they do this if I already have an ICD?  I really want to get a diagnosis on my son so everyone knows what to look for when they have kids and if they need to do that threw me, I'd rather put off the ICD for a little longer until I can get other tests ran.

Can anyone answer this?

[ireneo]

I wish I could help. Usually when a person has an ICD inserted, the unit does a great job of recording the arrhythmias. All the cardio has to do is put the interrogator donut thing over the ICD and download all the information. It's very handy since it will pick up problems when the patient isn't even aware there was a problem.

I'm not sure if they can do an EP study with an ICD or pacemaker in. I can't think of any reason why they can't. The ICD will show up on the fluoroscope, they can stimulate arrhythmias with medication and if they need to cardiovert during the procedure, they can use meds or turn off the ICD temporarily if they need to do a little shock. But that's my reasoning, not medical know how. Certainly it's a simple question to ask your doctor.

[Pamz]

Sounds like pretty good reasoning - thanks!