Lead Removal

Just wishing you well

by twodrifters - 2020-07-05 23:02:03

I have not been through the procedure that you will be having.  I just want to wish you well.  I did go to Cleveland Clinic to have an AF ablation, with my local EPs support as there were scheduling issues with using my local EP.  His comment to me was, "They will take good care of you."  

I hope you will hear from someone who has had a lead removed and find it reassuring.  I will be having a PM implanted for the first time in the next few weeks, and I am appreciating this forum.  For some of us, more information is reassuring.

Just wishing you well

by twodrifters - 2020-07-05 23:02:42

I have not been through the procedure that you will be having.  I just want to wish you well.  I did go to Cleveland Clinic to have an AF ablation, with my local EPs support as there were scheduling issues with using my local EP.  His comment to me was, "They will take good care of you."  

I hope you will hear from someone who has had a lead removed and find it reassuring.  I will be having a PM implanted for the first time in the next few weeks, and I am appreciating this forum.  For some of us, more information is reassuring.

Lead revision

by Finn - 2020-07-15 13:01:17

Yes I had lead revision 3 yrs ago, I had the pm and leads for 8 years at that time so the decision was to extract them, and replace as opposed to leaving the leads in and just putting another bext to it.

a sheath laser is used, the leads become attached of course so they need to be lasered to loosen them.

it is bit involved, I won't lie, still it only took 40 minutes, one overnight in the hospital.  I was working within 2 weeks,  it was a month before I felt 100%
if you want more details let me know.

fyi I just posted about this coincidentally , I have a st Jude /abbot pacemaker with Tendril leads.

they tend to go early from what I've read.

Thanks Finn

by malston01 - 2020-07-15 13:55:49

Finn,

I appreciate your sharing your experience. Where did you go to have your surgery? I am heading to the Cleveland Clinic next Thursday to have this done. A bit nervous of course. 

Lead revision

by Finn - 2020-07-17 09:59:48

I had mine done by Dr Swarup at the Abrazo heart hospital ,  he does quite complex heart surgeries and I felt comfortable with him.  He has his own clinic now next to the hospital .

i have heard other people having lead revision in Cleveland clinic. 
As I said recovery was a little longer than my intitial procedure in 2009,  to be honest I'm not sure if I was in general anesthesia or twilight. I heard there was also a thoracic surgeon on call as a back up.

i had 2 years left on my battery at the time so I was not able to have the on changed at the same time. (Insurance reasons).

any other questions let me know.