Bad pocket

I have a situation where my device has been moving and appears to have moved out or through the pocket resting on a rib. Very painful at times, esp. when lying in bed.
Upon exam by two EP's one being the installer EP, I am told that it needs to be extracted, along with the leads and put on my right side.
Problem; Avid hunter a shooter. They tell me the right side placement would preclude these activities. also I am learning through this site that there is a significant risk associated with lead extraction.
anyone with similar experience? anyne that can add to my knowledge of risks?
thanks, Art

4 Comments

I'm still thinking about this!!!!!!

by Pookie - 2012-05-11 01:05:11

I can't, for the life of me, figure out why they would want to take out the entire thing (leads and all) and place it on the right side unless it has become infected....that is the only time I have personally read on here that a doctor would chose to put it on the opposite side. Not that I know a lot because I don't, but I've read 99% of the posts on here for the past 7 yrs and have never heard of this, unless, like mentioned, it has become infected.

Or perhaps I'm gonna learn something new:)

Pookie

Pm leads

by Jax - 2012-05-11 01:05:22

I heard that as well. I spoke to my EP About it. He said that sometimes they have to be changed. He didn't feel it was sooo dangerous. I guess everyone is different.

That was my thought too

by ElectricFrank - 2012-05-11 01:05:47

As Pookie says there is rarely any reason to completely rip out the whole thing and start over. There's several places they implant them like under the skin, under a muscle, etc.so there is the possibility of just moving it a bit on the same side. There are also lead extensions if the new spot requires a bit more reach.

The cynical side of me says there is more $$$ in it for them to do the major move. How long did they know you were having problems with it moving and told you to just wait and see if it wouldn't settle down?

I would suggest seeing a surgeon entirely independent of the one that messed up the implant in the first place. If it had been properly sutured it wouldn't have gone traveling.

frank

I don't understand

by Pookie - 2012-05-11 01:05:54

Why do they have to remove the leads?

Why can't they just make the pocket smaller and call it a day?

Mine migrated into my armpit and when it was repositioned (6 months after initial implant) they certainly didn't have to touch the leads.

My surgery was lengthy as they had to sew up the path it took, but in the end he not only anchored it, but like I mentioned, he made the pocket nice & snug. I haven't had an issue with it since.

How long have you had your pacemaker? If it isn't too long then lead extraction isn't too risky (in most cases) because not a lot of scar tissue has had the chance to build up.

Pookie

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