Can you mix and match

I am about to have a pacer change and was pondering in that will any make of pacer fit my existing leads or will they keep to the same pacer as the leads.
Peter

4 Comments

Universal leads?

by Mary1998 - 2012-06-29 08:06:26

I was on my 3rd make with my original leads. I would assume the leads are universal, but I'm sure Frank or Don or another equally knowledgeable patient will correct me if not so.

yes

by Tracey_E - 2012-06-30 09:06:13

If your leads work, they will not be replaced. There are some exceptions, but generally leads are universal and you can switch pm brands without a problem. Some of us here have leads that are 20, even 30 or 40 years old, that still work, and we get new pm's that are compatible.

Frank, I think icd leads are universal also. Isn't there an extra lead for the defib? I thought the pacing leads were the same, but I could be wrong.

I have to admit

by ElectricFrank - 2012-06-30 09:06:37

I'm totally (almost anyway) about defibs.

As an electronic type I've been shocked so many times, often with a lot more than an ICD, that I mix them all up together. I've probably stored up enough joules to handle me the rest of my life. If an ICD tried to hit me I'd just shock it back.

It makes sense that an ICD would use a separate lead for defibing. That would allow it to be located at the critical location on the heart for the job.

I learn something new every day here!

frank

Adapting leads

by ElectricFrank - 2012-06-30 12:06:50

In general the leads will work with the various makes and models. There may be cases where this isn't true though. One place I wonder about is reusing pacemaker leads with an ICD, since the voltage and current are much higher.

I remember seeing adapters listed in the Medtronics data sheets.

frank

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