Pacemaker lead - ruptured within 12 months

Dear All

I had PM operation May 26 2017 - never really felt well. Found out in April the lead was ruputured and thus had operation May 22 to replace.  I have been charged for second operation - told no recourse as I signed a form and also legally. First of all, has  anyone else gone through this? Secondly, is this right that we have no recourse? 

Thank you.

 

4 Comments

Thanks Robin1

by FRA - 2018-07-03 00:37:03

Am new to this; just signed up.  American living in Australia, 60 years of age. I have full blockage (bundle branch blockage thus pacemaker) and AF.

Boston Scientic Pacemaker / Leads - the top lead into my heart aparently ruptured thus needing to be replaced within a year of inital operation. 

They tell me this is a very rare thing to happen and thus, unlucky.  My doctor has not experience it before and hence reaching out to this community to see if anyone else has gone through this and how it was handled.

Thank you.

 

 

when things go wrong

by Tracey_E - 2018-07-03 10:09:13

I'm not sure what you mean by ruptured? Leads are metal. Did the leads become displaced or go bad, or did the heart rupture from the lead? Did they reposition the leads you started with or give you a new one? All of these are very rare and more likely bad luck than error, however a year later is odd. 

I'm wondering if mine is ruptured but no info available....

by BOBTHOM - 2018-07-07 07:33:25

Since having the Medtonic ICD installed I've been getting strange "pokes" where the leads sit inside the heart.  Almost like an elf in there with a toothpick poking the inside of my ribs on the lower left.  I already had it reprogrammed to stop recalibrating every night because that was causing a series of "pokes" at 12:30am every day.  Of course dr's don't beleive you, or it's not the device as everything is functioning fine, not sure where to turn or who to ask.  Any help out here?

Breaking leads

by karinirene - 2018-07-16 10:55:07

Hi, I'm Karin and I just got my third pacemaker and my third pair of leads.

It is rare but it is possible to break the leads. The outer coating of the leads get damaged and they will rupture with time.

My doctor told me that it happens to some people that carry too much weights. The leads are closer to the skin and to your clavicle so the friction damage them. There is no guarantee that they will last 20 or more years, most of the people have leads 10 years old or more, but there is a small percentage of people like us that break theirs leads.

In my experience, there is nothing you can do but to get new leads and hope for the best.

 

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As for my pacemaker (almost 7 years old) I like to think of it in the terms of the old Timex commercial - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.