Loose set screw

Hi - I had my St Jude Medical device implanted around 6 months ago. In the last 3 months noise has appeared on the readouts that I'm being told could be attributable to a fractured lead or more likely a loose set screw (an X-ray didn't show any fracture on the visible part of the lead although there is a chance a fracture could be located in the lead close to the device at the point where it is sutured to the muscle). The proposal is to go in and take a look - if loose set screw, it can be tightened: if fractured lead it needs to be extracted and replaced. Has anyone else had this experience? Any other questions I should be asking? Thanks

5 Comments

leads

by Tracey_E - 2015-09-29 04:09:39

Sometimes it's just not in a good place, or doesn't seat well. If the lead is fractured, they should be able to tell from the reports, at least when mine was they did. Having noise means they have to crank it up more to make it work which shortens battery life. After the first year, the scar tissue holds the lead in place so it is a much different, much more involved, procedure to fix it so it's best to fix it now.

Loose Screw

by Good Dog - 2015-09-29 05:09:37

They wouldn't necessarily need to extract a bad lead. That would depend upon how many you currently have. It is usually an unnecessary risk to extract if it is possible to insert a new lead and leave the old lead in place.

I've been told I have a loose screw, but it never had anything to do with my PM. I did have a recalled ventricular lead which was capped and left in-place when they did the next generator change. They simply inserted a new lead.

Sincerely,

Dave

Hi SF.........

by Tattoo Man - 2015-09-29 08:09:11


.....you have been well advised here....

Is it just me or have there been more Fractured Leads and Lead Removal postings here on PMC than ever before ??

If this is so, what is that telling us ??

Tattoo Man

Screws 2

by oldearthworm - 2015-09-29 09:09:48

Nothing is 100% . I do suspect bad workmanship from doctors .. but I have lost a great deal of respect for them. ...sadly ..
A loose set screw ? Very unlikely ; more likely is a poorly engineered set screw .. The same with the leads ..I wonder how thick they really are .. anything can fail ..but its one in a trillion ..

Leads and FDA Recalls

by toma1940 - 2015-10-14 03:10:05

I just had (10/8/2015) my St Jude wires removed and replaced. St. Jude has wires have a FDA warning notice about these poorly manufactured wires. Check out the FDA warning on this. Be insistent as St. Jude has not been forthright with the public!!

You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

Member Quotes

I am just now 40 but have had these blackouts all my life. I am thrilled with the pacer and would do it all over again.