Unable to Insert 2nd Ventrical Lead

I have been using a dual chamber pacer for 15 years. Recently my doc believes I would benefit going to a Bi Ventricle 3 lead pacer. I had surgery yesterday and he was unable to insert the third lead due to only one area open. Other veins are apparently damaged when I had open heart surgery back in 1998 with a valve replacement. So now I have my third pacer and still no Bi Ventricle pacing. Current doc admits that he does not have the skill to insert in the correct place due to my unique anatomy but knows another who can. The doctor is at another hospital. My current doctor is very experienced and has done hundreds of pacer and lead insertions. My question should I wait another 6 - 10 years and have someone else try to insert then or go for it now. I am told that I will have more energy with Bi-Ventricular pacing. I am 59 years old.

6 Comments

If I were you

by Good Dog - 2016-02-27 06:02:57

I am unsure what the plan is for you at this point, but the Cleveland Clinic may attach the leads to the outside wall of your heart. If I were you I'd go to a hospital like the Cleveland Clinic...........maybe John Hopkins? It is pretty close to York, Pa? I do think that is an important procedure to make you feel better and also to prevent heart failure in the future.

Sincerely,

David

Another Yorkie

by searchingwoman - 2016-02-27 08:02:14

Hi Bill,
I have had my pacer since I was 36 years old. I go into York Hospital Monday morning to receive my 4th pacer. I am not sure who your doctor is but I have had Dr. Siddoway for all of my surgeries. I trust him with my life. If he is your doctor, I would follow his advice. I wish you all the best!
Donna

Thanks for the comments

by Bill3937 - 2016-02-27 10:02:32

David, thanks for the note. John Hopkins is close and I know they have some of the best in the world.

Donna, I hope all goes well for you. I was 42 years young when I had open heart surgery for valve replacement and my first pacemaker at age 44l. I had this procedure at St Joseph's Hospital in Townson MD with Dr. Brett Roberts. I believe he has my best interest and I trust him, however I appreciate his honesty in what he discovered as a difficult procedure for me that would take some technique that he is not comfortable with accomplishing. He did take almost 3 hours trying to get the third lead in place. I currently plan a consult with a doctor at Lancaster General a Seth Worley who specializes in previously failed and difficult biventricular device implants.

small world

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-28 04:02:03

My dad had a bypass at York Hospital last month. Great cardiac facility.

I respect when a doctor says this is over my head and refers us to someone more specialized. They can do pacers all day long but not do many bi's.

Were you upgrading because your function is dropping or precautionary? How low is your energy now? We discussed upgrading mine when I got my last one but I feel great and can do what I want and my EF is good, so I said no thanks but I'll revisit it when 1) I lose ability to be active or 2) one of my leads goes bad.

Options

by Terry - 2016-03-01 01:03:27

Another alternative that is not uncommon is to pace the heart the way it was meant to work. Activate the "cardiac conduction system" at the His bundle (Google that).
Watch Karen's story on His-pacing.org and see how Karen's heart healed itself. Conventional pacing, as your doctor knows, causes remodeling and His bundle pacing resulted in "reverse remodeling."
Terry

Small World Indeed

by Bill3937 - 2016-03-01 01:03:29

Tracy I am upgrading due to being 100% paced and the long term benefits of reducing congestive heart failure by having the of the right and left ventricle pacing together. Also if my current 15 year old lead fails (the lead impedance has increased over time) I would still have the other new lead place ensuring that I continue to pace.

Terry, I will google the story you shared, Thanks

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