Problem finally answered

Dislodged lead

by Good Dog - 2024-10-26 10:02:59

Yes, I experienced this, but in my case it was dislodged the day after the lead was implanted. I don't think it happens frequently, but it is actually fairy common for this to happen. However, it is usually caught much sooner after implant than in your case. There may be no way to determine when your lead became dislodged, but it really does not matter anyway. It is likely that it was not anchored as well as it should have been, which I am sure is the reason why your Doc apologized.

It is really no big deal, but of course nobody likes to go back in for a re-do. This is a pretty simple re-do. I was really anxious about my re-do, but that is, because I always got anxious before any procedure. Since it is a fairly new lead it should be very easy to relocate and secure it. You'll likely be in and out pretty quickly. Not to worry! The end-result should be very gratifying! Please stop back here and let us know your your experience went. 

I wish you the very best!

Sincerely,

Dave

It clearly isn't normal but not altogether rare either

by Gemita - 2024-10-26 10:31:11

Light,

Lead dislodgement is unfortunately not as rare as we might wish and most of these displacements involve the atrial leads, usually within the first 6 weeks following implant, although it can occur later too.  I am sorry this has happened to you and that you have had to wait all this time to receive an answer for your pacing difficulties.

Lead reposition is the most effective treatment for dislodgement, especially in early dislodgement. As for late dislodgement, implantation of a new lead may be more feasible.  Have your doctors given you any indication of what they intend to do?

Lead dislodgement includes macro-dislodgement and micro-dislodgement. Micro-dislodgement refers to minor dislocation of the pacing lead that cannot be easily identified by radiography, while macro-dislodgement can be observed directly from radiography.  Perhaps you have micro-dislodgement since it has been so difficult to confirm?

I hope this can be fixed safely and easily and that you can start to heal very soon. 

Lead Displacement

by light - 2024-10-26 11:54:11

Yes end of atrial lead hanging down confirmed with chest x ray and by the technician (ecg)

It sounds like a lead replacement.

reposition

by Tracey_E - 2024-10-27 09:50:58

Unless the lead isn't functioning, they will simply go in and reposition. As the others said, this isn't normal but it's not uncommon either. Sometimes they just weren't in a good spot to start and didn't stick. Good luck!

Early Lead Displacement

by Selwyn - 2024-10-28 11:47:27

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. 

The incidence of early displacements is 1% in VVI pacemakers and 5.2% in DDD pacemakers (3.8% of the cases affecting atrial leads and 1.4% ventricular leads). Acceptable displacement rates should probably be less than 1 percent for ventricular leads and no more than 2 to 3 percent for atrial leads.

To answer your question: YES it is normal ( ie. a recognised complication). and YES one in a hundred people may experience this following an implant. 

After 6 weeks lead displacement is rare. It is really difficulty to pull out pacemaker leads as they get fixed with scar tissue.

( Ref: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1513524/)