PM Replacement question

hey guys i'm finally going through with the PM replacement this week... my question though is, can I go through this w/o any sedation? mine is epicardial.. can it be done?

6 Comments

I don't think so.

by Stepford_Wife - 2007-05-30 10:05:38

Hi far4u 16.

According to the information below, it is a much more involved procedure than a regular pacemaker implantation. I don't think you'd want to be awake during the surgery.
Of course, I can't speak for you, your pain tolerance may be incredibly high.
You should discuss the issue with your doctor. Is there a particular reason why you don't want any sedation?
Good luck to you, take care.
~ Dominique ~

The epicardial approach may also be used to place the CRT ( Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ) device if you are already having surgery to treat another heart condition.

With the epicardial (surgical) approach, general anesthesia is given to put you to sleep during the procedure. The leads are guided to the heart with the aid of the fluoroscopy machine. Two leads are guided to the right atrium and right ventricle, while the third lead is guided through the coronary sinus to the left ventricle. The lead tips are attached to the heart muscle, while the other ends of the leads are attached to the pulse generator. The generator is placed in a pocket created under the skin in the lower abdomen.

The hospital recovery time is generally 3 to 5 days. Although recovery with the epicardial approach is longer than that of the transvenous approach, minimally invasive techniques enable a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery time. Your doctor will determine the best implant procedure approach for you, depending on your condition.

oh

by far4u16 - 2007-05-30 11:05:01

Well I've been told that they're not going to replace any of the leads and i'm not on a CRT device and they're not implanting that. they're just going to replace my current one w/ the same exact one... but when they first placed it they used the epicardial approach. I'm just worried as to how the whole thing is going to go. I've had this one for 8 years.... so i dunno i'm just nervous & a bit worried... if anyone can walk me through how it would be like i'd appreciate that.

p.s. I'm really happy that I found this site!

Don't see why not

by gaby - 2007-05-30 11:05:34

If they are only replacing your unit then it should be done just like any other pacemaker replacement. They should just freeze the area and give you something to make you drowzie. Not a very long procedure I don't think.

Still don't see why not.

by gaby - 2007-05-31 03:05:05

If they are only replacing the unit and not placing any leads it is done the same way. I have an epicardial pacer as well. They don't crack the sternum to replace the unit they do to put in leads. A unit replacement is the same regardless of how your leads are placed.

That is what you said they were doing. Are you sure you typed the correct message and didn't mean they are putting in a pacemaker? If they are putting in an epicardial Pacer then there is NO WAY you will have no sedation.

lol....oh man

by far4u16 - 2007-05-31 12:05:05

thanks 4 ur story queen_beez. it gave me a piece of mind, but my implant is epicardial not endocardial... so i don't think they would let me do it being awake... did u also have an epicardial implant?

new device implanted!

by far4u16 - 2007-06-01 04:06:34

Hey everyone, I just had my new device implanted yesterday! Went by really quickly. now I just have a lotta pain at the incision site.

You know you're wired when...

Titanium is your favorite metal.

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