100% pa.ced and getting ready for pace maker replacement

100% pacing

by AgentX86 - 2024-04-11 21:41:40

Sounds fishy, to me. I'm not only 100% paced but have no intrinsic beat at all.  I specifically asked my cardiologist about this. He said that it wasn't a problem at all.  He'll just temporarily connect the new pacemaker to the leads, remove them from the old,  then remove the old, and finally permanently connect the new to the leads.  He said it takes him all of 30 seconds. 

I thought they would connect an external pacemaker but he said it wasn't necessary.  Going up through the femoral vein sounds extreme to me, but I'm not a doctor. It's not all that big of a deal I've had it done four times (and once through the femoral artery) but it doesn't sound right, for something so simple.

I had it done..

by USMC-Pacer - 2024-04-11 23:26:14

They had to replace all of my leads along with the pacer. They sent a very small wire / lead via catheter up through one of my veins near my groin. I was out like a light so I never felt it. Also, no special precautions as they use a vein, not an artery.

Found this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF2IEdVfODk

Temporary pacing wire

by Julros - 2024-04-12 00:55:46

Cardiologists access femoral veins and arteries all the time. Its done using a big needle, and then they thread in wire. Your doctor may or may not even need a temporary wire, but it seems like a nice back up juxt in case there is some issue detaching or reattaching your leads. The temporary lead is just sort of stabbed into the interior of your right ventricle, and hooked to a pulse generator to pace your heart. 

Serious complication from this

by JaneJ - 2024-04-12 03:22:03

They placed a temporary pacemaker due to pacemaker dependency via the femoral with my last pacemaker change and I'm sure it doesn't happen often but I had a very serious complication from it.  When I woke up after the procedure I immediately had severe right sided lower abdominal pain, accompanied by a very low BP.  They ended up nicking my femoral artery during the procedure and I bleed out into my abdominal cavity.  Bleeding did end up tamponading on its own and I thankfully did not require surgery from it, but did have to stay for three or four days in the ICU and needed blood transfusions as well.  When I get my next replacement this year, my first question will be "Can you do this without a temporary pacemaker?"  Hope the answer is yes ( :  I believe infection rates to go up with the use of a temporary pacemaker also.  Im not sure if that's due to additional wires or increased time spent on the procedure, but it's something to consider as well.  Take care, hope your procedure goes well.

External pacing

by Good Dog - 2024-04-12 07:47:30

Another option may be an external pacemaker if you are a candidate. Not sure if you are aware and/or if there are contraindications that prevent it. Just somting to ask the Doc. 

I wish you well........

Sincerely,

Dave

Agree w Agent

by Lavender - 2024-04-12 08:24:50

I just asked my cardiologist about this on Monday and he described it as Agent said. It's so quick that a temp pacemaker isn't needed he said.  I am also 100% dependent with no intrinsic beat. 

replacements

by Tracey_E - 2024-04-12 09:58:50

I'm on my 5th, am fully paced, and they have never had the temporary pacer. The external one has always been adequate. I would ask if it's a possibility. It's just a big sticky pad rather than something invasive. 

Replacement

by AgentX86 - 2024-04-12 23:22:44

Lavender and I have something in common that may make this procedure easier than most.  We both have CRT-Ps, which are essentially two pacemakers, one in each ventricle.  It may be that the cardiologist can swap one lead, then the other.  Either will keep the heart beating for the short time the other is disconnected. This is just a guess, but it could explain the difference.

Our pacemakers operate in different modes, so the details of the pacemaker function during this time are an interesting mind game (the two pacemakers can't run independently).