Atrial Lead Displacement

Looking for reassurance! My pacemaker was implanted on 4/4/13 for the first time due to bradycardia. Had to have lead displacement surgery on 4/26/13 and again on 5/13/13. Doctor said the hook in the lead had straightened out both times and needed to be placed in the hook position again. If the last surgery does not get the "hook to hold", he said I would need major surgery to attach the leads to the outside of the heart chambers. Can anyone give me any info or advice about what is happening with my leads and what my options may be if this does happen? Thank you!

4 Comments

I'm with Tracey on this one !

by IAN MC - 2013-05-16 01:05:01

Doctors seem to vary enormously in their skill at implanting PMs . Speak to any of the hospital staff who watch different Drs in action and they will tell you that they themselves would be very selective if they needed a PM.

I would not let your doc have a 5th attempt on me ... no way !! I know you are after reassurance but I think you need to be after a change of doctor !

Best of luck

Ian

Me too

by Suzie_G - 2013-05-16 01:05:41

I am about to go in for the 3rd revision on my leads too. They put in a screw active fixation lead last time but seem to have disturbed my atrial lead. So I don't know if they will try to reposition it or replace it with a screw in. I feel for you, it is very wearing having to keep going through it,isn't it.

get another opinion

by Tracey_E - 2013-05-16 12:05:39

They also make screw types. I would look into that before epicardial. Epicardial isn't what I'd call major surgery, but it's a lot more invasive than the regular kind of leads. The biggest reason to avoid that kind if you can is the batteries don't last as long.

I would get another opinion before I'd let the same person operate on me 4 times for the same thing! Some hearts don't do well with the barb type leads which means the screws could do better. Some hearts are shaped so that the leads are hard to place. And some drs just aren't as good as getting them where they need to be. But hopefully this time sticks!!!! You're overdue for a break.

What about screw in leads

by ma_ku - 2013-05-16 12:05:50

Hi,

Can they not use the screw-in type leads if the hooks keep failing? Might be worth asking the cardiologist about it.

Mark

You know you're wired when...

You always run anti-virus software.

Member Quotes

I live an extremely normal life now and my device does NOT hinder me in any way.