Pacemaker implantation gone wrong

I was due to get a pacemaker last friday. Well I was prepared to goto theater etc, then went in. The procedure was done under a local anasthetic so I could hear and see everthing the doctors were doing. While the were doing the venogram I started feeling a burning sensation on my chest, then I was throwing up blood. A sunction was done in my mouth immediately and I was given oxygen at 100% since I got short of breath. The procedure was immmediately abondoned and the doctors request an xray and CT scan to be done immediately. The results came back saying I have a pneumothorax. They punctured my lung during the procedure. I need to know when will the pnuemo heal? Has any experienced this. I'm on oxygen supply for now to get rid of the pnuemo.

10 Comments

PM implantation gone wrong

by Lee24 - 2014-06-16 01:06:06

Thanks will let you know how it all goes.

Rough!

by Gotrhythm - 2014-06-16 01:06:44

So sorry. Of course you don't want to die--you want to get home to your baby.

Best wishes for all to go well tomorrow and for a speedy return to your baby.

I'll be thinking about you. Let us know how it goes.

:(

by Bily11am - 2014-06-16 02:06:56

Oh no! I wish you all the best...I am getting a pm this Friday, and I have a 3 month old. Now I am completely freaked out...

Thinking of you

by Porkypig - 2014-06-16 04:06:27

All the best for tomorrow
Dawn

Gone wrong

by pcrews - 2014-06-16 11:06:41

Wow. So sorry to hear that happened to you. No, I never had that experience. Read the possible things that could go wrong when I did my pre-op work.jpb Hope you're doing better now. Are you home or still in the hospital?

Holy Cow

by NiceNiecey - 2014-06-16 11:06:44

That's a horrible story!

Now that you've had a pneumothorax, you are going to need to be very careful for the next several months. Stay away from smoking, and smokey fires, etc and don't get the flu! I would like to SLAP the doc that punctured your lung. Can you sue in South Africa? It's so upsetting!

PM implantation gone wrong

by Lee24 - 2014-06-16 12:06:16

I'm still in hospital, they are going to attempt to do it again tomorrow under a general anesthetic. Hopefully I don't complicate this time. I don't wanna die I've got a 1 month old baby waiting for me at home.

PM implantation gone wrong

by Lee24 - 2014-06-17 02:06:33

Thanks for the advice I'll make sure I stay from anything that causes coughing. I'm still coughing out abit of blood I don't want it to be worse. Yes you can sue in south africa but doing it will take long. It can even take 2yrs before the case is sorted out.

It happened to me as well

by jane32 - 2014-06-17 07:06:04

although I wasn't aware anything was wrong until the next day. I was short of breath during the night of implant but the nurses didn't seem concerned, it was when I had an xray in the morning that is showed up and I was rushed around to the respiratory ward to get a chest drain in (very painful). I was on morphine for a couple of days, stayed in hospital 3 nights, apart from being very bruised and sore, and tired I had no further problems and soon made a complete recovery which I am sure you will. It must have been very frightening when things went wrong like they did for you. Keep positive, take things quietly until you feel better. Let family help with your baby for a couple of weeks, then just enjoy being a Mum. I have had my pm 3yrs in August. Look forward to hearing from you again.

Similar situation

by deeheart - 2014-06-18 08:06:38

I had the procedure one week ago and felt various pains and tugging during implantation. The following day my MD was going to send me home from the hospital. The evening after surgery I was experiencing some chest pain, shortness of breath and "crackling" sounds/feeling on my left side under my rib cage. The morning after chest X-ray, showed I had a small pneumothorax. I was lucky it was small and the treatment was a large amount of oxygen therapy (no chest tubes or aspiration). I stayed in the hospital for 3 1/2 days--just had a follow up X-ray yesterday to see if it's healed. I'm still feeling some pains and am very tired--this could be due to medications too. I was told by MD's that the pneumothorax complication can be common with this procedure. Don't hesitate to report any symptoms after the procedure--it may help identify problems earlier. Good wished to all!!!

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Member Quotes

My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.