pacer infection

Pacemaker implanted 2010 is now infected. It appears my body is rejecting the device. I met with cardiologist yesterday and he said the device and leads must be removed. So i will have surgery May 09, 2014 to remove old pacemaker and leads on my right side. Then a new pacer will be implanted on my left side. Whew this will be my fourth device since 2004!

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by Tracey_E - 2014-05-07 01:05:16

Ok, I was thinking about you and something about your situation bothers me. Infection and rejection are two different things. Have you talked to an infectious disease specialist? I would want cultures to confirm what's going on, and infectious disease specialists know more about infection than cardios. Not to question your dr or sound like I know more than I do, but common sense says 1) if you are rejecting it, you need to know why so it doesn't happen again or 2) if it's infected, you need to clear up the infection before putting in a new one because the new one can end up infected also.

Hoping Don sees this and posts. He's been around that block and knows a lot more.

Erosion & Infection

by donb - 2014-05-07 08:05:20

Hi, Just read your posting & reads familiar to what I've experienced. Tracey has given you good advice. I also want to stress having a good infectious Dr as I finally had to resort to a good University hospital to get proper treatment. My local hospital did Blood work & cultures which showed negative infection. As it turned out the infection was not only in the implant site but also in the leads which showed up where they attached to my heart wall. Having also another pair of old leads from 1992 still in my vein & heart which could not be removed I had to undergo 7 weeks of intensive IV treatment. Fortunetly I was under the care of Michigan's top EP surgeon & still am.
As I still see my local Cardiologist who is tops in our area, is very happy with my Abdomen implant site. As I had 3 erosions in the 22 years prior he finally confided that as a skinny person like me it was not abnormal for my previous 5 implants to move around & erode as I'm way too active. I'm doing real well & completely happy now for the care from Harper University Hospital in Detroit. Forgot to mention I stll have my original leads as they could only be removed with open heart surgery. This was due to Plastic Surgery from my original left chest site as they were cut short & couldn't be removed from the top. As tests showed infection on those leads hence Vancomycin for the 7 weeks.

oh no!

by Tracey_E - 2014-05-07 09:05:50

How frustrating! Are they implanting the new ones right away or waiting until the infection is gone first? Good luck!!

pacer infection

by pp - 2014-05-08 07:05:29

In response to Tracy and Don, blood cultures drawn and showed infection. So tomorrow morning my pacemaker and leads will be removed at the University of Kentucky hospital. I will have a new device implanted later. Thanks for your comments.

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

Member Quotes

It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.