pacer coming out

My husband's pacemaker became infected and is now coming out of his chest, his doctors don't know what to do,

7 Comments

len

by newbie - 2014-06-08 01:06:39

i think the paramedics are involved

Unbelievable!

by Gotrhythm - 2014-06-08 01:06:54

I concur with the others. Get new doctors.

Don't know who else to go to?

By law, you can ask your doctor to refer your husband somewhere else, and they have to do it.

If you live anywhere near a major university teaching hospital, ask for referral there, but really, another cardiology group would probably do.

As Inga says, this complication is not so rare as to be unheard of.

Hi Teesut..........

by Tattoo Man - 2014-06-08 03:06:07


.........I had an infection and removal a while back, so now I am a 'right hander'.

I am sure that all will be fine...give your husband my best wishes.

Tattoo Man

Pacemaker removal

by golden_snitch - 2014-06-08 04:06:15

Remove it (if it's a system infection, the whole unit incl. leads needs to be taken out), put him on i.v. antibiotics for around 2-4 weeks, put a new pacer in on the other side. But if he has doctors that look at this situation now and do not know how to proceed, he really should see someone more competent! This is a complication not unheard of, they should know how to deal with it.

Best wishes

Inga

removal

by judyblue - 2014-06-08 10:06:28

I echo Inga: get new doctors! I have had other issues in which doctors give up on me, but when I seek others, there is an answer. I am in the process now of finding a new cardio for the reason of he says my pain is not normal-go to a pain management physician. In other words he just wants me to mask my pain instead of finding the cause.
good luck, and let us know how everything works out!
judy

golden

by newbie - 2014-06-08 12:06:13

I am glad i found a great hospital. The specialist involved guarantee great results..

University Hospital

by donb - 2014-06-12 11:06:12

I had major Cardiac Care just a year ago of pacemaker & lead removal with infection. I knew my local Cardiologists were not a good choice. I was fortunate getting into Harper University Hospital in Detroit getting excellant care. I was put on IV treatment Vancomycin for 7 weeks which was administered at our local Caretel Facility. I was able to go home at times. The IVs' were a daily routine, not too uncomfortable but lengthy. Blood work daily checking Vanco level.
My case was lenghthy as tests showed infection growth in my heart where I had 4 leads, 2 from 1992 & 2 more in 2000. As my wife (now retired) Cardiac nurse was my life saver during all the years.
DonB

You know you're wired when...

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Member Quotes

The pacer systems are really very reliable. The main problem is the incompetent programming of them. If yours is working well for you, get on with life and enjoy it. You probably are more at risk of problems with a valve job than the pacer.