My leads keep coming out.

I had a Pacemaker put in a couple of months ago. After 6 wks, I went to get the wires checked, and after an x-ray, the Dr determined I had dislodged both wires.He cut me open again and reattached them 4 wks ago. I went back to the Dr last wk, and after an xray, One of the wires had dislodged again, so he put put me on a strong heart medication calledAnioarone,which has terrible side effects. Has this happened to anyone e out there? Thank you. Mary aNNE

5 Comments

leads

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-24 08:08:18

If the leads won't stay in place, it's possible the type of leads they used aren't compatible with your heart muscle. They come in barb and screw type. When they come out once, it's common to try to put it back. After they come loose a second time, and considering it's both and not just one, it's probably time to try the other type. It's not common but this has happened to other members. If you do a search for "dislodge lead", you should be able to find some of the other discussions.

I would get a second opinion before letting the same surgeon have at me three times.

I've never heard of medication instead of pacing. There is no medication that increases heart rate like a pm does. Did he mention placing it again?

More information needed

by golden_snitch - 2013-08-25 04:08:27

Hi!

What type of device did you get and what for?

If your cardio put you on Amiodarone, because one of your leads is dislodged, the only logical explanation I'd have is that you got a defibrillator (ICD) implanted because you suffer from ventricular tachycardia. In that case the Amiodarone shall prevent further episodes of ventricular tachycardia, because the lead needed to shock you out of that tachycardia, doesn't work (dislodged).

But if I'm wrong about the ICD, and you only had a pacemaker implanted, I do not understand what this medication has to do with the dislodged wires, either. Amiodarone is a very strong anti-arrhythmic drug that is used to treat arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, other types of atrial tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia.

Getting a second opinion, as Tracey suggested, sounds like a good idea. Most importantly, you need to understand what exactly is going on and what's the reason for the device implant.

Best wishes
Inga

Do you have A-Fib?

by PacerRep - 2013-08-26 01:08:57

Amiodarone has no correlation with dislodged leads. Let a "seasoned" electrophysiologist do your next repositioning, you don't have to use the same guy. "Usually" these guys are damn good implanters, and can put the wire's in different locations with ease. (some doc's....and I'm not saying yours did...can only implant in one section of the heart and will keep going back to that spot).

Amiodarone

by Marie12 - 2013-08-26 09:08:40

I have been on Amiodarone since June and now have a defib/pacemaker. I am coming off this medication in September (3 month anniversary of ventricular tachycardia). I chose the defib implant because the option was the Amiodarone for the rest of my life. There are some serious side effects and in some cases not reversable. Five cardiologist recommended the defib because they did not recommend this drug. Not sure I have ever heard it used for those with pacemakers. I thought it was usually for defibs.

My leads dislodged 2 times

by Pegofmyheart9 - 2013-10-31 11:10:47

I had my Medtronic bI-ventricular PM implanted 9 years ago. The morning following the surgery, I told a nurse that I thought something was wrong with my PM, since I felt strange movements in my stomach. She harshly told me "the PM is in your chest, not in your stomach!" My dr. Confirmed my fears that the leads had fallen out and Explained that I was experiencing diaphragmatic stimulation and asked me to stay another night in the hospital to have lead revisions. I was sent home after the 2 Nd surgery and soon noticed the familiar "hiccups" in my stomach. I saw my doctor, who took an x-Ray, but apparently never looked at it. The " hiccuping" lasted for a month until I saw her again. She then realized that, indeed, the leads had fallen out. She removed herself from my case And requested another specialist to take over. You know what they say "the third time is a charm!" Well, they stayed after the third surgery. My first doctor told me that the anatomy of my heart was " very unusual" in explaining the problems with the leads falling out. I recently had my PM replacement battery implanted - and those original leads were still in place.

So, I think there is hope for you to get those leads replaced correctly. Each surgery, however, took more out of me, with longer recovery times.

You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

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