I am about to have my third pacemaker implanted. I got my first pacer in 1993, the second in 2000 and now will have one in 2010. Do any of you know if the surgeon will have to create a new 'pocket?' All of my pacers have been on the left side of my chest....will they eventually have to move to the other side of my chest due to saggin skin and muscle? Thanks for any info you can offer. :)

 

 

I doubt it unless you are having problems with the current location. It isn't that heavy that a little sagging muscle and skin will cause a problem.

The replacement these days is very easy. I was in and out in a few hours when I received a new one last Jan. I chose to have it done without sedatives and remained wide awake. A few shots of local anesthesia took care of any pain. I've had worse times at the dentist.

frank

 

Only if you have problems. If the leads are good and the pocket is good there's no reason to move it. And if the leads are good, you don't want to move it because moving it to the other side would mean replacing the leads also. Don't replace leads until you have to, there's only so much room in the veins.

I had my 4th replacement earlier this year and the scar tissue around the pocket had been bothering me. Sagging wasn't the problem, tho it has drifted over the years, it just ached all the time. Rather than move the pocket, we had a plastic surgeon clean it up and now it feels great again. Essentially a new pocket, but in exactly the same place as the old one.

 

Hi ,
No , it will be put in the same pocket it has no risk because this is the the 3rd pm .The leads are stayed as they are what will replaced are the battery and its computer unless you need to change your pm type I mean from single lead to daul lead this case means the implantation new system as you did for first time GOOD LUCK
Dler IRAQ

 

I also had my 4th PM replacement since my original in 1992. In my case my left implant pouch needed a lot of work because of scar tissue and also one of my leads was bad. After a couple of months without my PM I had a complete right chest implant with 2 new leads. Following I had 2 restoration surgeries on my old site because of lead caps eroding. With this taken care of I'm completely happy as I no longer have the seatbelt bugging me while driving. I've learned that as a right seat passenger it's far easier to deal with the belt. I do have concern about having 4 leads (the limit) although I don't expect to outlive the usefull life of my new leads at age 78 now. Looking at genes, lost my Dad in 1965 at age 64 and my Mother 2 years ago at age 101. Anyhow, quality of life is good!! donb

 

When I got my 3rd it was in the same place and leads were still the same. That was when it was in my lower abdomen. My fourth one I had it moved to left side of heart. They would of put it in the same place if I didn't asked for it to be moved.

Becky