From lead to leadless pacemaker?

Probably not

by Theknotguy - 2018-07-30 07:27:08

Talked with my EP about going from the old style leads to the new bundle-of-his type lead.  He said, "Sorry." 

About going to a leadless pacemaker, it involves pulling out the old leads and putting in the pacemaker that fits inside the heart.  First problem is if the inside-the-heart pacemaker will work for you.  Second problem is pulling the leads.  Third problem is keeping you alive while doing it.  Assuming, of course, you have no other complications.  Fourth problem is who is going to pay for all that.  I'm sure my medical insurance won't go for the cost and I don't have extra cash lying around to pay for the whole thing.  Do you?  Final question is if you can find an EP willing to take the risk.  I know mine won't.

Fortunately or unfortunately we live in a time of fast moving technology.  Things that were the latest technology a couple of years ago are now obsolete.  And unfortunately those who were on the leading edge of technology a few years ago are now sometimes stuck with the old stuff.  

You can always ask the doctors if it's possible.  Pull out the old pacemaker, pull the leads, put in the new.  Not a complicated process but with rising insurance costs and danger of lawsuits to the doctor if something goes wrong I'm not overly hopeful.  Of course we, with the current pacemakers, can hope for some technical breakthrough that would make changing over to a new and better system worthwhile.  

Hope everything else is going well for you.  

leadless

by Tracey_E - 2018-07-30 11:54:55

As the technology is now, it's unlikely many of us with regular leads even qualify to have a leadless one. They are single chamber and not appropriate if you are dependent, and as KnotGuy said it can't be used with existing leads. So if you were already having them extracted and othewise qualify, it could be discussed. Lead extraction is not without risks so you wouldn't want to do it just to switch to leadless. 

Thanks both, it helps

by GS - 2018-07-30 23:49:46

I think the answers are there 

Leadless

by Rodlyn - 2018-09-04 15:00:04

i have 23 year old dual chamber system.  My doc says NO