Pacemaker Generator Replacement

Replacement--a word to the wise

by zawodniak2 - 2017-11-18 15:22:05

This was my experience with replacement.  What amazes me, is the lack of education we get from providers as to what to expect in the future.       Many of us are never even told that the amazing device will have to be replaced at some point in time or what to expect in symptoms when that time comes. I am sure some providers are better than others in explaining this either before or after implant.  In my case, my replacement time was identified in a timely manner and my last interrogation span was shorted to 3 months after wich I "limped" in for my replacement.  Folks who don't keep up with interrogation schedule could be in for scary symptoms.

                          Rodger

Interrogation Schedule

by brucecal - 2017-11-18 15:51:20

What is most disturbing is that (I forgot to mention) I have it interrogated every 3 months and the last was on Sept 18th.  Apparently, no one noticed!

Interrogation Schedule

by brucecal - 2017-11-18 15:51:20

What is most disturbing is that (I forgot to mention) I have it interrogated every 3 months and the last was on Sept 18th.  Apparently, no one noticed!

Anesthesia and headaches

by Hoosier Daddy - 2017-11-23 17:39:37

Happy Thanksgiving from Indiana.

This is a reply to Robin1.

There are not any anesthetic medications which are known specifically for raising the risk of a headache to above a spontaneous rate, or about 10%. 

The procedural technique of neuraxial injecitions - spinals and epidurals - can be associated with headaches in particular, well defined circumstances.

When you look up the attorney generated list of potential side effects of almost any medication, headaches will frequently make the list, not because the chemicals have a defined mechanism of action leading to cephalgia, but most likely because of psychological mechanisms. You will see that if 100 people are given placebo, a predictable number will develop headaches. This is not to say that their headache is not real, but simply that the mechanism is not from the ingested materials.

Regarding what is used for generator changes, the most ubiquitous medication is propofol, and it is either administered alone or with fentanyl and/or midazolam (Versed). Again, if you pull out a package insert for each of these drugs, headache will be on the list, but the connection between the drug and a headache is so tenuous that to forego any of them during a generator change is not unreasonable but the justification to do so should be for other reasons. 

Changing topics, I, too, have a CRT device. I noticed in your bio that you stated that you were told that it would reduce the risk of a recurrent stroke. Were your diagnoses BOTH left bundle branch block with dyssynchrony AND atrial fibrillation? I am curious because while the newest devices used in resynchronization therapy - such as the Medtronic Claria - have sophisticated programs to help continue resynch therapy during AFib, they don't treat AFib, per se. However, cardiologists often are able to give more aggressive medication therapy for AFib when an EP specialist can back the patient up with a pacemaker. This is because a predictable consequence of aggressive anti-AFib therapy is a bradycardia.