my lead has slipped!what next?

I have been feeling crappy for about a week,and had my pacemaker checked today.Apparently,my ventricular lead has migrated to the atrium.They are going to replace it next wek.What does that involve?I'm scared to death!

5 Comments

Migration

by Swedeheart - 2008-05-15 01:05:15

I am very sorry to hear you are having this problem. I am new to the pacemaker world (80 days since implant) but have read a number of posts about replacement and lead replacement. I do not know exactly what this involves and I hope someone who is more knowledgeable than I will respond.

This is my GUESS ~ if you haven't had the lead very long they may be able to somehow go in and reposition it... if you have had your pacemaker for a year or more they may still be able to reposition it, or perhaps they will disconnect it and insert another. I am sure a lot depends on how long you have had the lead/pacemaker, etc. My only advice is be sure the doctor who does the replacement knows what he/she is doing! Ask them about their success rate and if it is the same doctor that put it in originally grill them on why it moved... If you did a lot of vigorous exercise or something that could have caused it??? Ask lots of questions.

Good luck and please keep us informed!

Swedeheart

TAKE CARE

by peter - 2008-05-15 03:05:38

The leads take a while to fix themselves. The first 6 weeks after the leads are put in iare the most risky and you should avoid lifting your arm up above your shoulder and doing any exercise that could cause a lead displacement. After a while the leads sieze in the veins. They can be still extracted but its a very skilled and slightly risky and sometimes impossible proceedure. Alternatively they can be left and a new one inserted. You have only had your leads a short time so I think they will try to reposition the lead before trying an extraction and or fitting a new lead. I dont think you need to be scared to death. They should be able to fix it without too much trouble. Good luck, let us know how it goes and ask them what and how they went about it . Cheers Peter

I've had it done

by heckboy - 2008-05-15 10:05:38

Leans extraced and replaced, that is. My OP went smooth and took less than two hours. Don't be scred to death. They'll fix you up... make sure you have someone that's done it before... done a lot of them! My EP had no problem sending me to someone else for the job.

Migration

by Stacey28 - 2008-05-31 11:05:34

How did your doctor determine that it had slipped and what particular symptoms did you have?

lead slippage

by Stacey28 - 2008-05-31 12:05:14

I would like to know what symptoms you felt if any with the lead slippage?

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