Detached lead

I just had a pacemaker placed 9/8/15. On day 4 of post op I started experiencing palpitations, chest pain and the inability to lay flat. After a night of torture I finally went to the ER. After an extensive work up, it was determined that my ventricular lead had detached from the wall, was pacing on its own, and occasionally poking the inside of my ventricle causing the pain. The Medtronics rep came in and turned the pacer off and I was scheduled for surgery to fix the lead placement.

Just wondering if many people out there have had problems with lead detachment? I've been playing by the rules. No lifting. Arm in a sling majority of the time. I'm currently on day 3 post op (again) and feel so much better already.

4 Comments

not common

by Tracey_E - 2015-09-18 01:09:46

It's not rare, but it's not common, either, well under 1%. And it's not your fault! Sometimes the heart wall doesn't like the type of lead attachment they used. Sometimes your heart is shaped such that they couldn't get a good spot. Sometimes everything is perfect and it still moves, and it's nothing more than bad luck. When you think about it, it's amazing they ever get it first try! The heart is a working muscle, moving and beating the whole time they are trying to place the lead remotely, watching by xray.

Talk to your dr after your placement, but wearing the sling all the time not usually a good idea. It's actually proven to not make much difference in the lead staying in place, and you can get frozen shoulder. Don't lift anything heavy, don't raise it high, but other than that try to use the arm normally after the first few days.

It does happen

by Theknotguy - 2015-09-18 03:09:41

Unfortunately it does happen. Rest assured you did nothing wrong to have the lead come loose.

I'll let the more technical people go into explanations why.

Hope your lead placement procedure goes well and the new lead stays in.

me too!

by alicia6650 - 2015-09-19 12:09:59

the same thing happened to me, but instead of chest pain, it was causing my right abs to contract. My sister said it literally felt like a baby kicking! We all thought I needed to eat a banana, but I just happened to be seeing my doctor that day and they did some tests and it turned out the lead had pulled all the way out and what pacing a nerve on the other side of my body. I felt like CRAP the day before I found out, but two of my three sisters were having babies, so I thought I was just tired from dashing to hospitals!

I was did not do any heavy lifting, or any crazy dance moves that would have caused it. My doctor did jokingly ask me if I had done cartwheels...not since I was in high school buddy!

and I agree with TraceyE....sling is not a good idea. Everything needs to heal in place but ALSO with range of motion in mind. Once its all healed, you won't be keep your arm still completely, you know? good luck!

Yup

by Pookie - 2015-09-21 04:09:50

It happened to me - first surgery for initial implant of a 2 lead pacemaker (2004) then the ventrical lead fell 3 more times = 3 more surgeries. It has NOTHING to do with you moving or raising your arm; 99.9% of the time it is because the end of the wire was not placed correctly or is didn't attach properly or the end of the lead has a hook (like a fish hook) or it can have an end like a screw...I can't remember what end I did have, but it was finally fixed...so yeah, it happens.

Pookie

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