Hello,
It is true that bradycardia and can occur with persantine stress tests and hypotension is very common. It may help to see the EKG in order to answers this question. If your EKG is normal with no evidence of conduction abnormalities, it may be reasonable to wait for symptoms or more evidence of non medication related heart block or symptomatic bradycardia. However, I do not have the option to see the EKG he saw during your bradycardia episode. It is possible that there was a significant abnormality on the EKGs that has your doctor concerned. Ask your doctor what it is about the EKG or the episode that makes him want to pursue an invasive test. You could also take the EKGs to an electrophysiologist and ask for a second opinion.
EP studies are very straight forward procedures with minimal risks, but I do understand your hesitancy.
I hope this answers your questions. Good luck and thanks for posting.
I have had two eps within 8months of each other and I would do it again. Its not a bad thing to have done, and I totally freak with things like that. It has very low risk factors but of course with any invasive procedure their are risks. Just make sure that the cardio doing the eps has had alot of experience. My first cardio that did one on me was pretty young and I was nervous but I did talk to him about his experience and how many he had done so I felt very reassured the second eps was done by a cardio who has done an overwhelming amount. I went to the University of Utah and from my understanding its best to go to a learning University they have the best of the best. Where are you meaning which state are you in. I also know a cardio in Portland Oregon whom I would also trust very much so and of course the Cleveland Heart clinic is the number one place to go wish I could of gone there.
wmac
i second that.. eps studies are very safe, the risk factor is a lil less than 1% chance of developing complication, and you get to take a nice nap through it. You wont remember a thing. They can also be VERY reassuring...