Hospital stay or Day Surgery?

I had my ICD implanted in 2006, in Oct I will have first replacement. They tell me the leads are fine, but I what I understood would be "day surgery" has become a 3/4 day stay. I am to be admitted to hospital one day, procedure done the next day and then was told to prepare for 2 day stay after that. Anyone else have to stay in hospital?

4 Comments

Why

by Tommy-2 - 2011-09-24 12:09:58

My thoughts are if you ask why here the best you can do is get some guesses, some of which may be unsettling. Ask the doctor why and find out for certain.

Tommy

Huh

by jimkirschvink - 2011-10-02 01:10:50


My understanding on replacements, is it's done as an outpatient proceedure. Perhaps Tommy is right - maybe you have some other issues. Maybe the doctors are milking it!

When I get mine replaced in a few years, I'm insisting on having it done as early as possible in the morning. If they jack me around, I'm walking out!

Jim Jim

Duh?

by mrag - 2011-10-20 09:10:47

I have same concern as others. I got my first 'single lead' ICD in Feb 2006. I was "upgraded" to a CRT-d version in March 2011. I went in in the very early morning, had the procedure around 9, laid around that day and night and went home the next day as planned. In my case they were adding that 'trickier' third lead for the CRT. I take coumadin and some other meds so had to stop a few of those for a few days. As for guesses, maybe the doctor wants you "prepared" in the very unlikely event of complications, drug adjustments or such. Your insurance company is not just going to write a check for a 4 day stay for a "simple" ICD replacement and your doctor knows that. There is more to the story, ask.

1 night stay

by icdbiker - 2011-10-20 10:10:30

Ok, I didn't have to stay so long, thank goodness!! I was admitted one morning, laid around for the day with holter monitor, had x-rays, bloodwork, icd check. Early next morning had the ICD replaced, that afternoon had x-ray, ICD check and two shots of antibiotic then sent home that evening.

They may have been over cautious because in '06 when I had the three leads and ICD implanted I had several complications after surgury. The worst being infection in the pocket. 2 wks post-op I was hospitalized for 18 days on IV antibiotics.

*@mrag...I am in Canada, so only thing my private insurance would be billed for is cost of semi-private room.

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