Hernia Surgery...#2???

I'm re-posting this message for any current feedback...thanks!
Good morning,

Anyone with an ICD/CRT-D have experience with hernia surgeries?

I've been stalling for quite awhile because of my CRT-D; my EP doesn't see a problem…other than the CRT-D will be turned off during surgery…with paddles on standby…and of course turned on by a Boston Scientific technician who would be present.

Thanks!

Ron

4 Comments

Thanks

by Ronniecolorado - 2014-12-31 01:12:11

Thanks a lot "Flutetooter!"

Great info...and you're right, I'm assuming you're speaking of "Don"...he gave me pretty much the same advice regarding Grounding in April.

I'm really happy to hear it worked out well for you.

I will bring yours and Don's posts to my consutation next week!

Happy New Year!

Ron

Ground Pad!!!!

by flutetooter - 2014-12-31 11:12:52

contact done for great info on this. I had a small hernia repaired this summer also with several hours of internal surgery issues - under anesthetic 3+ hours, with great results. I only have a PM for bradycardia and they chose (well beforehand with approval from my EP team and a very recent interrogation to make sure that my PM was working correctly) to leave it running at a minimum of 60 beats rather than put it in a surgery mode of 100 beats because that would be unnecessary to have my heart beating that fast for that long.

You REALLY need to have a "ground pad patch stuck on the opposite thigh from your hernia to draw/ground current from the cauterizing instruments they will have to use to coagulate and seal cut blood vessels without the electric current going through your !CD/CRT!!!!!! You do not want a ground pad put between the surgery site and your heart, because then it will draw the current toward your ACD. I also chose an external operation for the hernia rather that laparoscopy or robotic because those would have messed up my insides much more than a 1 1/2 " shallow surface cut. My total blood loss from that procedure was less than 1/2 teaspoon. Great job. Good luck on yours.

Flute's got it right!

by donr - 2015-01-01 08:01:32

Except for my name

Also, your EP has it right also about what to do about your device.

They can put that ground patch anywhere on your body, so WHY NOT stick it on a spot well away from your device?

I underwent Laproscopic hernia repair last May with success. The surgeon & I talked about Electrocautery before hand & he said he would not need to use it IF the scope worked OK. I had an incisional hernia that developed in the scarred up incision left from a colon cancer removal the year before, so if done from the outside, I'd have had another incision that ran from essentially the bottom of my sternum to the pubic bone. Al my work was done from the inside w/ only 5 small incisions.

IF, HOWEVER, he determined that the job was beyond the scope's capabilities, he would put the ground plane AWAY from the heart side of the work - like on my butt or thigh.

They can do it, they just have to be willing.

Donr

Thanks Donr

by Ronniecolorado - 2015-01-02 05:01:53

Thanks Donr,

Both of you guys have been really helpful. It's really comforting knowing you're on this forum.

Happy New Year and Good Health to you!!!

Ron

You know you're wired when...

You name your daughter “Synchronicity”.

Member Quotes

A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.