Pacemaker Club: Remove and redo the pacemaker. ..

Remove and redo the pacemaker. ..

by Suedatin
2016-02-16 02:02:39
General Posting
1071 views
3 comments

Am speaking on behalf for my husband. Due to his frequent short breath he had. Thus the doc had a surgery on him to install the pacer and found it improves his breathing works well. But then a month ago he has infected some kind of virus and admitted for further investigations. But then we were told the pacer has to be remove from my husband body worrying that some unseen hidden virus may cause more problems. Therefore am seeking an advise whether to remove it and again to reinstall back again in few months time when ready...still confuse. Hope to hear it.
Thank you.

3 Comments

Infection and implants

by Selwyn - 2016-02-16 04:02:32

It is very difficult to get rid of infections if you have an implant ( eg. a pacemaker, an hip prosthesis, dental implant etc.).

If an infection proves difficult to treat, or has significant effects on the body, standard medical practice is to remove the implant, treat the infection, and start again with another implant, if possible.

Viral myocarditis ( heart muscle infection), endocarditis ( valve and lining of the heart chambers), and pericarditis ( the heart covering) are all serious infections.

I hope that the course of action as advised is now a little clearer.

Selwyn

not optional

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-16 12:02:45

If the pocket is infected and they are not able to control the infection as it is with medication, then there is no choice but to remove it. The leads go right into the heart, you can't risk the infection spreading to the heart via the leads. Once the infection heals, they will put it back again. It sounds drastic, but it's the right choice. I'm sorry this has happened to your husband.

A big thank you!

by Suedatin - 2016-02-17 11:02:02

Noted your response pertaining to the said enquiry and very much appreciated. :) Sue