Future surgeries

Hi everyone! Just a quick question. How does having a pacemaker affect future surgeries? Not necessarily heart related surgery, but general surgeries as well? (ex: gallbladder removal, tonsils taken out, etc.) I have tried researching this on the internet but I just keep finding articles about how the pacemaker implantation surgery goes.

4 Comments

surgery

by Tracey_E - 2015-07-19 04:07:48

We can't have electrocautery and they generally have someone there to monitor the pacer during the procedure. It's not a big deal, just make sure the surgeon and anesthesiologist know about it.

Surgeries

by Grateful Heart - 2015-07-19 07:07:58

We can have electrocautery during surgery but precautions should be used. It is used to stop bleeding during some procedures and so it is necessary at times.

Here is some reading for you. This first one is courtesy of donr.

http://www.cardiacengineering.com/pacemakers-wallace.pdf

Here is another I found. It just so happens that Dr. Oz was a co-author on this one:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1420917

Like Tracey and Sparrow said, let your surgeon and anesthesiologist know. Some of us bring the printout from the last interrogation report so they know where the settings should be reset after the surgery. Yes, they have it in the computer but I've had mine changed after a colonoscopy. It felt like my heart was beating out of my chest and went straight to the Cardios for a device check. My wonderful NP corrected the settings.

I'm sure donr will be along later to respond to you.

Good luck,

Grateful Heart

Hello

by mytrose43 - 2015-07-20 10:07:41

I have had several surgeries since having a pacemaker most important thing is to make sure the Dr and Hospital know you have a pacemaker,I just had a total knee replacement 4 weeks ago with no problems what so ever,Hope this helps some.

Follow up to GH

by donr - 2015-07-22 03:07:16

Electric fields & electric currents do weird things that the average bear just never expects.That's why any PM/ICD Host should be concerned - not worried about what is going to happen while they are in La-La-Land.

As soon as we start assuming that the surgeon & the anesthesiologist are completely aware of our situation, that's when the worst happens. You should read the first reference that GH listed. That is the best patient's guide to surgery when you have a PM. The one by Dr. Oz is pretty darned good, also. He is a pretty darned good cardio in his own right & he speaks the truth.

Anesthesiologists are notorious for walking up 10 min before they are to wheel you into the OR There is nothing wrong w/ discussing you & your PM w/ them. So what if they are annoyed about it. It's YOU who will be helpless, NOT them. Ditto for the surgeon. EC can be easily performed close to a PM w/ appropriate precautions.

You really want to discuss this in detail w/ both Dr's before going in.

You will not find many articles on your question.

General rule - the farther from the PM, the safer. Big toe is the safest spot. One of our members had a thyroid done in complete safety several years ago. Careful coordination w/ the surgeon, et al paid off. She took a copy of her last PM download w/ her to the OR. I have done that, also. Shocks the crap out of the anesthesiologist when you open up that long fanfold.

One of the questions you want to ask the surgeon early on is "Do you plan on using EC?" (They call the device a "Bovie.") The follow on is "Have you ever used one on a PM Host?" Followed by "What do you do to protect my PM from the Bovie?" The answer to the last question is "Put it on the side of the surgery away from your heart - but not too far."

Bottom line is that it is perfectly safe if you get into the decision loop. If you don't tell them about your PM, they may NOT find out.

Donr



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