blood clots

I have read a lot on here about blood clots.
That people are more likely to have strokes after PM is implanted. My mom just had a stroke and I am concerned about that and much more.

7 Comments

Blood Clots

by SMITTY - 2007-05-21 07:05:15

Lana,

People with abnormal heart rhythms, especially those who have A-Fib, are at a greater risk for blood clots and strokes that those with a stable, or normal, heart rhythm. One of the jobs of a pacemaker is to help establish and maintain a regular heat rhythm. I would, therefore, guess that a pacemaker reduces a person’s risk for a blood clot and stroke.

Of all the people I have seen post messages here during the last 2 or 3 years, I have not seen one say a blood clot or stroke resulted from their getting a pacemaker.

Smitty

blood clots again

by lana - 2007-05-21 08:05:27

mine will be a 3 wire, that is also a defibulator right.

blood clots

by lana - 2007-05-21 08:05:38

mostly concerned about blood clots-----they can cause strokes. I have read about it several places.

me again

by lana - 2007-05-21 09:05:24

the posts below at tleast 2 of them talk about stroke and clots.

Blood Clots

by Stepford_Wife - 2007-05-21 11:05:43

Sometimes, atrial fibrillation can lead to the following complications:

* Stroke. In atrial fibrillation, the chaotic rhythm may cause blood to pool in your atria and form clots. If a blood clot forms, it could dislodge from your heart and travel to your brain. There it might block blood flow, causing a stroke. The risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation depends on your age (you have a higher risk as you age), on whether you have high blood pressure, a history of heart failure or a previous stroke, and other factors. People with atrial fibrillation have a much greater risk of stroke than do those who don't have atrial fibrillation. A blood clot can also lodge in other blood vessels, such as those supplying the kidneys or legs. Medications such as blood thinners can greatly lower your risk of stroke or damage to other organs caused by blood clots.
Treatments for atrial fibrillation include medications and procedures to regulate heart rhythm. The goals of treating atrial fibrillation include:

* Restoring the heart to a normal rhythm (rhythm control)
* Slowing the heart rate (rate control)
* Preventing blood clots
In some situations, people with difficult-to-control atrial fibrillation who haven't been helped by other treatments may benefit from more-invasive techniques, such as:

* AV nodal ablation with pacemaker implantation. This involves applying radiofrequency energy to your atrioventricular (AV) node through a long, thin tube (catheter) to destroy this small area of tissue. The procedure prevents the atria from sending electrical impulses to the ventricles. The atria continue to fibrillate, though, and anticoagulant medication is still required. A pacemaker is then implanted to establish a normal rhythm.
I pulled this information from the mayo clinic.com. You don't mention the condition for which you were fitted with a pacemaker, I can only assume that you have a rhythm disturbance.
I hope this helps put your mind at ease.
Take care,
~ Dominique ~

Not sure I understand the question ...

by Lou - 2007-05-23 01:05:58

However, I had 3 blood clots form after my pacemaker implantation and reimplantation Nov.'06 - one in each subclavian vein where my pacemaker was placed and one in my innominate vein. They were discovered during a bilateral venogram Dec '06 and were treated with a thrombic agent during that procedure. I was placed on Warfarin, a blood thinner, and encouragingly a recent chest scan indicated that the clots have resolved themselves. So my experience says, "Yes, one can develop clots from pacemaker surgery" if that is your question, Lana. Hope this is helpful ... Lou

clots to lungs

by jimkirschvink - 2007-06-05 06:06:12

It would seem if your leads were on the right side of your heart, if you had a clot from the surgery it would get filtered out in the capillarys of your lungs, which is where the blood goes from the right side. They could eventually dissolve

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