Lead extraction

Hi my name is Calvyn I have a pacemaker with two leads in the ventricular artery and one in the othe artery. I have to have both leads that are in the ventricular artery that goes close to the bottom of my heart extracted and they have a Cardiac surgery team on stand by in case they nick or make a tare or a hole in my heart or artery . I have had these leads for 29 years and the artery is completely blocked. Can you give me some kind of info on what you think about having this done. I don't want to have my chest cracked open. What do you think. I am scared. The leads that are now there are old and draining my battery my AV delay Is 4.0 that's the power I use out of my battery which wears my battery out in 4 years and it cannot get to 6.0. Thanks I have a Boston scientific. I have had a Pacemaker for 30 years. The last one was put in 2011

1 Comments

Lead extraction

by golden_snitch - 2015-04-30 01:04:45

Leads run through veins, not arteries. Usually, they are placed using the subclavian or cephalic vein, then go down the innominate vein and vena cava superior into the heart. All leads run through the same veins, not different ones. What you are referring to are the different chambers in your heart: you have two leads placed in the right ventricle (lower chamber), and one in the right atrium (upper chamber). Also, it's not the AV delay that 4.0V, but the pacing amplitude (output); AV delay is a timing interval to synchronize how the atria and ventricles beat (atria first, then short delay, then ventricles).

Extracting leads that have been in for 29 years is tricky, because there is lots of scar tissue around the tip of the leads. While the technique and equipment have become more advanced, making it possible to extract many leads safely, it's still a procedure that should be carried out at highly specialized department by doctors who have lots of experience, and - as planned for you - with a cardiac surgery team on stand-by.

If the veins are blocked, and you have leads that need replacing because they are not functioning well any longer, then lead extraction is hardly avoidable. But with the laser technique they are using today, you're chances are not that bad that they'll be able to remove the leads without needing to open you up.

Good luck for the procedure!

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