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Changing Device Location
- by firekurt
- 2017-12-27 21:47:25
- Surgery & Recovery
- 1484 views
- 7 comments
Going in on Tuesday to get my ICD out and a lead changed. My ICD is on the surface of the muscle and I hate the location.
If I ask them to relocate the new PM under the muscle is that an easy task or does it take longer to install?
At the pre-op appointment, the nurse said I could ask for the relocation on the day of surgery. Is this standard?
Final question. Does the existing surface pocket heal shut inside or is there always a pocket 'void' leftover under the skin layers?
7 Comments
Switch-a-Roo
by firekurt - 2017-12-27 23:43:46
I'll be getting an MRI competent PM. The ICD was causing me problems and they were not able to program around it due to the device being an ICD.
I would like to move the location because I use a backpack, laptop bag, and seatbelt that all irritate the site. From what others are saying, locating a PM under the muscle seems to be no big deal for the surgeon. I hope re-routing the leads to that location is an easy task. I'm not worried about the recovery period. It will be worth the wait.
moving it
by Tracey_E - 2017-12-28 09:37:32
It shouldn't be a problem to move it but I would discuss it with them before surgery, not day of, make sure everyone is on the same page. Some doctors are more comfortable with this than others. My ep brought in a plastic surgeon to do mine. There is plenty of slack in the leads, they can be put pretty much anywhere in the chest, even run to the right side. My first 4 were low under the breast, the newest is higher and under the pectoral. My xray has leads all over the place and resembles a bowl of spaghetti! The old pocket will close up.
moving pm
by islandgirl - 2017-12-28 14:42:57
Glad you have an EP that is working with you. My EP knew I was active including backpacking, so he took care of it for me without me having to speak to him about it. I had been going to my EP for probably 10 years before I got my pm. Best of luck.
No Void
by valley01 - 2017-12-28 17:47:14
I had my PM removed in August. There is no void at all and they used the same scar but cleaned up the previous scar tissue so it didn't stick out.
Move to new location, no forwarding address
by ROBO Pop - 2017-12-28 19:20:34
My device was moved to a new zip code 2 years ago, and left a divot so deep they had to post warning signs so nobody falls in and gets hurt.
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I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish.
ICD placement
by islandgirl - 2017-12-27 23:30:33
Mine is under the muscle, and my EP put it there without me asking since I'm so active. The ICD was placed in the pocket of a previoius pacemaker. The EP had used the same pocket but moved it more medially, so he sewed the lateral side of the pocket. I think it's moved over again, though.
Under the muscle takes a little longer to heal and is more sore (according to my EP).
If you get an MRI compatible ICD, make sure you have no loose leads. When I got upgraded from a pm to an ICD, my ventricular lead was removed and replaced. My chest felt bruised for a couple of weeks. It was done with deep sedation, but the EP said he had to give me so much sedation it was like general. Removing the lead added about an hour to the procedure.