Ejection Fraction 15% or less?

Good morning,

I'm curious if anyone has an ejection fraction of 15% or less and how you're coping???

Last month, my doctor had to turn off one of my three leads in my CRT-D (Boston Scientific) because it was causing problems. So now my ejection dropped from about 35% to around 15% My lower ejection fraction so far, has me walking around like a slug...when I exert myself.

Thanks,

Ron

3 Comments

Turning off 1 of your leads

by Grateful Heart - 2013-04-09 07:04:20

Is a temporary fix to the problem. As HurtHeart said, your heart is no longer beating in sync, which is probably why your EF has dropped from 35% to 15%. You are probably feeling the way you did before your CRT-D implant..."walking around like a slug" and pretty crummy.

I had to have a lead revision. That is when they cap off the bad lead and replace it with a new one. They will usually place it alongside the capped lead if there is room (most times there is room) instead of removing the old lead.

Which lead was it and what was the problem? Ask your Doctor how he plans on solving the problem and let him know how bad you feel right now.

Good Luck and keep us posted,

Grateful Heart



15%

by Ronniecolorado - 2013-04-09 08:04:29

Thanks everyone for your feedback...very helpful.

Yes, I feel like I did BEFORE my CRT-D in Dec 2009.

Background, on March 2nd, my CRT-D fired off 31 times in about 40 minutes as I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance...a horrible experience.

The EP gave me a two choices:

1. Leave the 3rd wire on...that is active and take Amiodarone(heavy side effects) and other heart meds the rest of my life...I'm 60.

or

2. He performs a cardiac ablation to determine if there was a bad section...scar tissue...near the lead that was causing the shocks. Best case scenario it solves the problem and I'm only on Amiodarone for a few months.

Well, I choose the ablation...he ablated some scar tissue...and during the procedure he turned off the 3rd lead (left ventricle) with the intention of turning it back on the next day.

Well the next day comes and they bring in the Boston Scientific Interrogation machine...and within minutes I told the technician I was feeling really badly. My heart rate shot up to 150, 200, 250 and almost 300...thought it was the end. An on call EP came in and tried to pace me out of it...with no luck...had 3 shocks as the crowd gathered. The EP said he was going to have to knock me out with Propofol (sp?) to shock me out of it...it took 5 more shocks which I didn't feel, but my sore chest did.

So later that day my EP who performed the procedure said he was gonna leave the 3rd lead off. He said he could try and place the lead in another section of the heart, but that would require surgery...as opposed to a procedure.

So that's where we're at...feeling like a slug. He says he believes the ejection will improve even with that 3rd lead turned off.

In the meantime, I'm being seen for PTSD.

Thanks again...any comments will be greatly appreciated.
It causes me anxiety even thinking about it and writing this but it needs to be said.

Ron

Thanks

by Ronniecolorado - 2013-04-10 11:04:47

Thanks Hurtheart,

So many questions...and thanks to all of you guys I'll be writing them down and asking the EP when I see him next.

I agree a second opinion may be in order.

Thanks so much and the best to all of you.

Ron

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