Had St. Jude Pacemaker implanted about 5 months ago with 3 leads, includes defib. Somehow, it has shifted downward and needed to be reset. During the operation to reset, the surgeon said that the pacemaker had been turned completely over 8 times and the wires wrapped around it, consequently, tearing them all loose. In addition the wires had so much scar tissue in the veins that he could only connect the one defib wire at this time. He is suggesting that I turned it over 8 times, ever hear of anything like that? Think the pocket may have been too big and it rolled? Anyone ever experience anything like that?

 

 

Hello Saidie,

Not only have I not experienced anything like you report, I have never heard of such extreme pacemaker movement. Therefore, I say that if at all possible get yourself another doctor. Based on what you are telling us, your current one is a quack or a liar. Stop and think about what you have been told. Now a pacemaker is approximately 1.5 inches in diameter and about .5 inches thick. If there is room for for an object this size to turn completely over then the pocket he made for the PM is grossly oversized.

As for scar tissue, of course we all get scar tissue around our leads, but I have to doubt all of what you have been told. Sure some scar tissue will form in 5 months, but I think it would be very unusual for as much as he says has formed around your leads. Anyway, there are many doctors that can remove leads that are embedded in scar tissue. Of course there are some cases where the leads cannot be removed, but in all such leads I ever heard of the leads had been in place for more than 5 years.

As you can see, I have no good answers for you, but I do send you my very best wishes.

Smitty

 

If the pocket was done correctly, there's just no way something that big could flip over 8 times and scar tissue doesn't grow that quickly. I'd be getting another opinion.

 

Not that I agree with everything your Doc said, but pacemaker "tweaking" by the patient is pretty high on the complications list. That's a bit hard for me to understand, because I have an aversion to touching my PM. But nevertheless, many patients fiddle with their PM and leads.

Sonds like your problem is not trivial. I hope they're able to correct it soon.

Best,,,

Bob A.

 

This is why this club is so critical to every member here, to be able to share information and get help. Did you know all PM and ICD have suture holes to hold them in place? Means as Smitty said, whoever installed this thing was a quack. I have to agree, we've heard a lot of things here but this probably takes the prize for BS. Whoever this doctor is, drop them immediately and get someone else. There are phenomenol EP and Cardiologists nearby you in Phoenix or Tucson.

I apologize if I get a little too forceful, but when we hear of such blatant incompetence it just makes my heart rate go through the roof

Best wishes