defib leads

I have a medtronic ICD inplanted that replaced a st judes model that failed when I coded. One claim is that the lead failed, another that the battery fialed but anyway they put another set of leads in that are now on recall be medtronic. Does anyone know how many sets of leads you can have inside you at one time. I would like to have the medtronic leds replaced but my doctor says it is not necessary??? What to do
Kirby Knight

2 Comments

Leads

by heckboy - 2008-03-12 03:03:49

My Dr said that he's seen as many as 6 leads in a vein.

Get a second opinion

by Swedeheart - 2008-03-21 05:03:28

I would suggest you get a second opinion on how many leads you can safely have in your heart/arteries/veins. I am not a health care giver, just a patient, but Six seems like a lot to me. I have a dual chamber pacemaker and Medtronic told me each lead was about the size of a uncooked piece of spaghetti. Put 6 of those together and I would think it would take up a lot of space!

They may feel it is safer to leave the leads than remove them. It is currently a very sensitive procedure and should only be done with someone highly qualified. I would search around and ask the doctors if they have removed leads before, if they use the newer laser method, and how many procedures they do like this per year... (the more practiced, the better in my book) Lead removal can be dangerous according to some things I have read. But having too many leads might clog your veins and reduce blood flow. Ask a zillion questions and only do what you feel comfortable doing. It is your life!

Good luck.

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Member Quotes

It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.