pacemaker reposition

Good afternoon,

I was wondering if anyone had their leads removed and had their pacemaker re-positioned to the right side from the left. I would really like to know what to expect. My atrial lead was replaced three years ago due to an insulation break and I have developed the same problem again but they cannot use my left side again as the veins are 'occluded'? My ventricular lead has been in situ for 17 years, will they have to move that due to the re-positioning?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Majella

2 Comments

PM Reposition

by donb - 2012-04-05 04:04:50

Hello Majella, As someone else posted you must also be a very active person. I have been really tough on my wiring also as I developed an insulation fracture near the PM terminals. At the 17 year mark erosion started with my 3rd PM and it was removed. No being completely dependent I was without a PM for a couple months.
I did a lot of needless worrying about lead extraction. Soon after I went into Atril-Fib and I had my 4th PM & new pair of leads implanted in my right chest. I was fortunate to have it tucked just under my collar bone, & firmly secured under my muscle as I have like no fat. Now it's been 20 years of PMs' but this last implant if really great, doesn't move around with a nice muscle cushion over it. I was very fortunate to have an excellant surgeon do the job right.
Oh, also, restoration of old site not too pretty. 30 days after restoration & the huge lead terminal caps eroded & had to do it all over. A plastic surgeon was at a loss & I made him remove the lead caps along with the excess coil of the 2 leads. So, all in all the new lead routing through a differant vein has done well & I didn't have the risk factor of old lead removal. Naturally there was'nt any great communication as I had 2 differant Cardiologists who indepently (should) work together??

donb

pacemaker dependent

by majellasharkey - 2012-04-05 05:04:03

Thank you so much for your reply. I am not too sure if it is the same situation, I am pacemaker dependent so I cannot go without.

I would love to know more about this and also the recovery period as of course I have to be opened at the old site and the new.



thanks Majella

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

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My pacemaker is intact and working great.