Pacemaker and Lead Extraction

Anxious RN Leads Extraction Update
Comment posted by mermaidjan on 2013-08-04 18:22.
Sorry it has taken me so long to let you know how things went. Francine I am happy for you that you are now feeling better and all went well!
I had some serious complications with mine but fortunately am doing great now. As my wires were in for 15 years, the EP had a difficult time getting my ventricular wire out through my tricuspid valve and really damaged it. However he minimized it by saying that I could live without my tricuspid valve (between the right atrium and right ventricle) As a nurse, this was certainly news to me!
They sent me back to my home hospital to have my new Pacer inserted. I had gained 20 pounds of fluid in 3 days and was in congestive heart failure (CHF)!! My cardiologist realized something was not right with me and discovered a fistula in my chest created by the EP surgeon. Blood was being shunted from an artery into a vein and back to my heart causing CHF. They sent me by ambulance back to London to have it fixed. As they had never had a case like mine, they didn't know how to fix it, even consulting the Cleveland Clinic. Finally an Interventional Radiologist offered to insert stents to block the flow of the leaking artery. It worked!!! My CHF is now gone thankfully. Additionally, my cardiologist only inserted an atrial only pacemaker leaving my tricuspid valve alone. I really only need an atrial wire as my original problem was sinus node dysfunction. (My ventricular wire had been turned off for 10 years anyway) Well that's my story.......I had such a sense of foreboding before this surgery making me very anxious. Now I realize it was not unfounded!! I'm happy now!

3 Comments

Ordeal

by Bostonstrong - 2013-08-04 11:08:20

What an experience! I'm glad you are doing better. What about the tricuspid valve damage? Will you need further surgery for that? Hope you continue to heal and do well.

My Tricuspid Valve

by mermaidjan - 2013-08-05 07:08:43

Wow thanks for all you comments donr, bostonstrong, angrysparrow and casper. It is great to have support and feedback!
I believe my tricuspid valve is functioning a lot better now and there is no ventricular wire running through it causing regurgitation back into my right atrium. I have no swelling of my ankles and am not retaining any fluid. All signs of CHF have disappeared after my fistula was fixed. These symptoms may have been caused by a leaky tricuspid valve but as they stopped, I think it is functioning better.
My cardiologist (not the EP!) told me he'ld keep an eye on my tricuspid valve and fix it if necessary down the road.
I'm really hoping and praying I don't go down that road!
I am having a repeat Echo in October to see how it is doing so I will keep you posted. I do feel very blessed, lucky and grateful to have survived my ordeal.
BTW the interventional radiologist was a surgeon too - and an excellent one too!

Mermaidjan
Jan

Holy Cow!!!

by Casper - 2013-08-05 10:08:27

What a nightmare, thank God you came out of this.

Thank you for sharing this story.

Hope your recovery goes smoothly.

Casper

You know you're wired when...

The dog’s invisible fence prevents you from leaving the backyard.

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