I recently had defr/pace maker put in on 12/07/09. This was to replace the faulty one which was recalled. Inappropriate shocks.The old lead FRACTURED. I went for my second follow-up on 5/26/10 and the lead moved. They now want me go back in the hospital to test it. I have a Boston Sci ICD and a St jude lead. I understand that they stop the heart for this test.Has anyone had something like this? Surgery was done at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, NJ

 

 

Jersey Shore...good place.

Are you having an EP study done? That's where they feed a catheter up the femoral artery and send small electrical charges to different areas of the heart. This "maps" it out and they can see if there are any places sending out electrical impulses where they shouldn't be coming from.

Increasing the heart rate to fibrillation and then shocking it is, I believe, a part of the test.

I was asleep for mine so I can't tell you first hand, but the test itself to me was a big nothing. I went in in the morning and was out later that day.

I would imagine testing a lead would be similar in nature. If so, it's really nothing to worry about.

Hope this helps!

Best to you,
Gellia