Murmurs and leads?

Anyone else pick up a murmur after your pacer was put in? Last week I was told I have a little 'squeak' of a murmur that wasn't there before. Nurse Practitioner told me nothing to worry about and there was no way the lead could be causing it. Further research on my part says that leads can definitely cause murmurs and in some cases can lead to more serious complications. Was wondering if anyone else had had, heard about or seen this type of issue?

Thanks again everyone.

4 Comments

noises

by Tracey_E - 2009-12-14 06:12:04

A murmur is a noise when the heart beats. Since we have wires running through the valve so that it can't close completely, it makes sense that they'd occasionally hear a murmur on us. Did she mean to say the lead couldn't be causing a problem? Because just making a noise isn't problematic.

I don't know if it can be serious or not. My guess is it's not likely but anything is possible. I don't lose sleep over rare side effects of having a pm. I'd be dead without it, so if I have complications, so be it. It is what it is :o)

murmurs

by maryanne - 2009-12-15 01:12:58

Murmurs are more common than you think. Murmurs can be more pronounced at certain times than others. For example...sometimes when a person has a chest cold or chest infection a murmur might be heard. Murmurs do not necessarily mean that something is going to happen....many people go around with murmurs...does it bear watching.....if constant and bothersome of course it does. Try not to lose any sleep over this....but if you are really worried talk to your GP or cardiologist.

cheers....Mary Anne

When I passed this info along...

by COBradyBunch - 2009-12-15 05:12:58

When I passed this info along to my Nurse P they decided to have me in to check things out. Probably nothing but based upon the no murmur, new murmur thing my doc wants to check me out himself. Will let everyone know what we find out.

Articles I found

by COBradyBunch - 2009-12-15 12:12:48

ABSTRACT

A 23-year-old woman developed 3° AV block with syncope. Insertion of a permanent pacemaker lead was followed by the onset of a persistent murmur in late systole preceded by single or multiple clicks. The murmur was best heard at the left sternal edge, grade 3–4/6 with two major frequencies (60–250 Hz), increased with inspiration and on assuming the erect posture. It was considered to be tricuspid in origin and related to interference of the tricuspid valve apparatus by the pacemaker lead resulting in tricuspid regurgitation. No tricuspid valve prolapse or flutter was seen on echocardiography. Withdrawal of the pacemaker lead resulted in immediate disappearance of the new auscultatory findings. Review of the literature suggests that the appearance of such a murmur following pacemaker insertion could be associated with later complications in relation to tricuspid valve dysfunction. It is therefore recommended that, under these circumstances, permanent pacemaker leads should be appropriately repositioned.


And another one...

ABSTRACT

Tricuspid valve injury is a rare complication of transvenous pacemaker placement, We report such an injury in an elderly patient with cardiac amyloidosis. Because serious complications may result from such an injury, tricuspid valve perforation should be considered, along with the more common causes of new murmurs, in patients with pacemakers.

You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

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A pacemaker completely solved my problem. In fact, it was implanted just 7 weeks ago and I ran a race today, placed first in my age group.