Pacemaker replacement complication


I recently had my pm replaced. First one lasted good 9 years. The doctor who did the replacement said that he was unable to unscrew one of the leads from the pm and had to cut it off and insert a new lead. The second lead was unscrewed easily. Now I have an extra lead which is serving no purpose. He said he decided not to take the lead out because it is complicated. Has any one experienced any problems while unscrewing the leads? The doctor, who is doing these procedure has experience of more than 15 years. He said he has never had any issues with unscrewing the pacemaker leads before and this was the first time it ever happened. Any one had this problem?

3 Comments

That can happen

by ElectricFrank - 2009-12-02 01:12:11

It doesn't seem to happen very often at least from the lack of posts here. There is a warning in the Medtronics manual about overtightening the screws. They are very small and easily stripped.

Generally, they avoid removing leads after several years unless there is some serious reason like infection for doing it. After 9 years they would be pretty well a part of the blood vessel and heart wall and present a risk of doing damage trying to remover them.

Glad it all turned out well

frank

multiple leads

by Hot Heart - 2009-12-07 06:12:16

Hi there, think a lot of people have leads left in and they cause no problem, they are very teeny!

HH

I have one

by dwelch - 2010-01-21 05:01:44


This happened to me. first replacment broken lead, doc said "oops" I said "what do you mean oops". If the doc is comfortable with the lead being there then that is fine. These things have to move around with you for years, they will fail mechanically eventually, so I wouldnt blame the doc, even if the doc was a little rough, that is fine. based on the time I asked about if/when they would remove my spare one say if I needed a fourth someday, that facility had a surgeon that was good at it and did all of them. bug the doc over the course of the next few visits, not a did you screw up thing, but is there room for a spare in there and how will we know if it needs to come out and do you do that surgery or do you have someone that does it for you.

I have three leads only using two. One in use is about 22 years old the other 15, both going strong, no issues other than being old technology.

You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

Member Quotes

Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.