Is general anestheia required?

Have replacement scheduled for this Thursday Nov.14th. I am told my lead is good (I am a single lead). Would like to know if anyone has had a replacement with local anesthesia? If so are you awake during the procedure? Seems it would be a lot safer than being put to sleep. Thanks in advance for any advice you can share.

6 Comments

Repleacement Pacemaker Battery

by SMITTY - 2013-11-11 03:11:25

Hello
Below is my experience of getting a replacement pacemaker battery.

On arrival at the hospital I was given a some of the hospitals latest fashions to put on and told to lie down and get comfortable as it would be a little while before the surgery. I read the paper and watched TV for a couple of hours while other PM patients were also being readied for their PM . After about an hour I got an IV and spent the next 3 or 4 hours being "prepped" which consisted mainly of getting about a quart (at least it looked like that amount) of antibiotic through the IV and the surgery area cleaned and cleaned real good.

Later that morning the doctor came in and examined the area for the implant again and we talked about what was involved. After another hour or so I was wheeled off to the surgery area where I spent about 30 or 40 minutes being "dressed or draped" for the surgery. Sometime after I got in the surgery area I received some medication to make me relax so they said, but what it did was make me take a nap in about a half-sleep mode. I vaguely remember being told they were injecting a local anesthetic into the area where the surgery would be performed so I would not feel anything. I was not put to sleep as is normally done for surgeries as this is not surgery in the terms we normally think of surgery. About 45 minutes later I was told, "okay Mr. Smith, we are through and your pacemaker is working just fine." I was wheeled back into a room where I had to stay overnight to be sure I had no adverse reactions to any of the meds I had received. Some patients go that day. Doctor's choice.

I was not unexpectedly sore and my healing was no
problem. I did have restricted use of my arm for a few days, the main thing being not to raise my elbow above my shoulder, or lift more than a few lbs. Each of us is different, therefore get slightly different instructions) with the arm on the side of the PM. I was n lot allowed to drive for about 24 hours and then for short distances for a week or so. All in all the pain is less than most dental surgery I have had, and since I was retired even with the first one, it did not interfere with any activates.

One last word, you will go home with the Drs best guess on PM settings. Most of the time these are good, but occasionally some people need to have those settings tweaked. If you think it is causing you a problem, or if you think something is amiss, you should let the Dr know, otherwise he will have no way of know everything is not perfect.

Good Luck,

Smitty

Local

by Tick-tock - 2013-11-11 04:11:00

As others have stated, usually just local with a sedative is required. Personally, I want to be knocked completely out. I've had failed twilight sedation in the past. I had general for my initial placement, and plan on it for anything where someone is going to take a sharp object and cut me open:) I have. Not had the pleasure of a replacement, however during my initial placement, I went home about 4 hours after surgery. Yes local is ideal, and most people do just fine with that- best of luck

I really admire those..............

by Tattoo Man - 2013-11-11 05:11:20


....................who check in for a box -job with nothing but a ;local' and see the whole thing as " like a bit of root canal "

Me....

Shit scared..

Knock me out...I wake up mid-op and squirm about giving the Surgeon the challenge of operating on an unpleasant Octopus.

These guys have enough to cope with...they do not need 'Squirm Man' to make their job even more difficult.

This is MY deal..I go Doggo.. You get the job done..I'll see you tomorrow...neat..cool.

What I REALLY do not want is to be told , when I wake up, gagging for Vallium to be told..." We wont be much longer"

Sorry, but I can only do reality......a guy in the white coat is holding up a plastic-pocket-thing......" Have we got them all in ??".."Yes..19 "...blood soaked swabs in 19 pockets...

I do reality..sorry for all those who see any area of Cardiac Surgery to be ,in anyway uncomfortable...the fact is, any surgery, and Cardiac is not much of an area of choice....

Cardiac will never compete with Botox..

For the feint of heart..you have missed you chance to ..look away

Falk / Columbo said.." Just looking for the facts"

Sorry if this is not what you want to hear..

Tattoo Man ..Lightweight Patient..no apologies

local

by Tracey_E - 2013-11-11 08:11:24

Replacements are generally done with local. Most first implants are done with local, too. Unless it's buried deep or there are extenuating circumstances, use of a general is overkill.

most do not get general anesthisia

by ItsmeWayne - 2013-11-11 11:11:29

Hi,
Most pacer replacements and even initial installs do not require anymore than a local, with sedation. As you state, it is much safer this way!
Itsme Wayne

Had general 2 weeks with replacement

by Ashtinicole - 2013-11-13 03:11:04

Hello!

I recently underwent my third pacemaker surgery, my second replacement. The surgeon asked which anesthesia I would prefer. Personally, the thought of being able to see/hear what is going on in the operating room makes me very uncomfortable, so I opted for the general. While they said it would have a higher chance of nausea upon waking up (which lucky for me I didn't have), I had no complications with the general although the surgeon did have an extremely tough time removing my PM due to submammary placement.

Good luck tomorrow and have a speedy recovery!

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