Upcoming surgery

I have a question. In the next couple of weeks I'm having a new pacemaker implanted. I am totally dependent on my pacemaker. My question is when they disconnect the old one to put in the new one, for a while I will have no help to keep my heart beating. Even the fastest hands can't be that fast.

Anyone else ever have this procedure, please advise.

Thanks

14 Comments

Pacer Dependent

by Good Dog - 2015-11-19 10:11:11

Not to worry! If there is any danger, they have an external temporary pacemaker they can use. Also, I am sure that you have what is called an escape rhythm. While it may be only somewhere in the 20's or 30's, in either case there is no chance that you could die.
Trust me, they do this all the time with pacer dependent people. I just had mine changed two weeks ago. It is a piece of cake. You'll look back and wonder what you were worried about. Try to relax. If you can't, you can rest assured that the drugs they give you before and during the procedure will make you relax.

Wishing you the very best............

Sincerely,

David

Upcoming surgery

by SMH - 2015-11-19 11:11:28

Thanks for the answers, I appreciate it. Heckboy you made me laugh out loud!

Up your leg

by heckboy - 2015-11-19 11:11:33

Should it be necessary, they insert the external PM through your leg. It wasn't necessary for me, but I got the shave just in case. And now I itch.

Talked to a nurse about it

by Theknotguy - 2015-11-20 01:11:31

Talked to a nurse about switching out a PM when you're 100% dependent. She had previously worked as a nurse where they did the PM implants.

She said keeping the heart going was the number one priority. So they made sure the heart would keep beating (at a normal rate) until the new PM was implanted.

Consequently they use an external PM if your heart can't sustain itself. It's put in place before they start the implant so there isn't a time period you go without a heartbeat.

Pretty scary when you think about it, but they have procedures in place to cover the situation.

Tell the doc you want an American pacemaker. Not the ones from China and definitely not one from Mexico. (It always gets a laugh.)

30-45 min if leads are good

by heckboy - 2015-11-20 02:11:11

There must have been a lot more going on for a 7 HR surgery.

Upcoming surgery

by SMH - 2015-11-20 02:11:30

Thanks for the encouraging words.

Upcoming surgery

by SMH - 2015-11-20 02:11:40

7 hour surgery? I thought it was a quick surgery!

What???

by Good Dog - 2015-11-20 03:11:50

What could have taken 7 hours??????

7 HOURS!

by Sylvia1 - 2015-11-20 05:11:48

Sorry didn't mean to worry you-I have very thin veins and it took 4 hours to get old ICD and leads out (2 years worth of scar tissue)from original implant and 3 hours to put new ICD and new leads in.That is why I had external pacemaker put in as they knew surgery would take a while.I came back from surgery just after 5pm on the Friday and went home 8pm the next day and Recovering well.Are you keeping original leads and just having new device?

Upcoming surgery

by SMH - 2015-11-20 06:11:08

Sylvia 1, as far as I know, just a new device. I have my consultation before surgery on 12/1, so guess I'll find out all the details then .

Been there, done that

by golden_snitch - 2015-11-20 06:11:40

My heart stopped completely when they disconnected my old pacemaker and put in the new. But believe me, the hands are quick and a short pause is no issue at all. Putting in an external pacemaker just to bridge a few seconds or a minute would make much more fuss (and of course comes with risks) than just accepting that short pause and hurrying up a little bit. My EP says that just happens from time to time, even in patients who had an escape rhythm when tested before surgery. And when I asked what he does when this happens, he answered: I hurry up. That's it.

Good luck!

EXTERNAL PACEMAKER

by Sylvia1 - 2015-11-20 09:11:57

Just had ICD replaced and new leads after leads broken in ICD that had been in for 2 years.Am totally dependant on device so they put in external pacemaker through groin and used this whilst in 7 hour surgery to remove old device and put in new leads.Wish you well with surgery.

Pacemaker renewal

by Sylvia1 - 2015-11-20 11:11:36

Why are you having new pacemaker -has the battery ran out?I guess your existing leads must be ok as assume they would have told you otherwise.I was just unlucky that two of my leads broke after only 2 years.

Upcoming surgery

by SMH - 2015-11-20 11:11:47

Yes I have had my pacemaker for almost 7 years and the battery is shot.

I'll know everything by 12/1 as that is my pre op appointment.

Thank you so much for your insight.

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