Lead Replacement

Hi everyone
I'm new to this site, but have had a Medtronic Versa DR pacemaker since November of 2007. The other day I noticed that my HR was around 40bpm while my threshold is in the 60's. I went to the ER and they said that my one lead wasn't capturing. They switched my leads from bipolar pacing to unipolar pacing, and that has gotten my heart rate back up. Every three hours though I feel a jolt around my generator, I guess it's called pocket simulation. My chest is a little sore also, especially when I lie down. Has anyone ever experienced this with a unipolar pacemaker before? And is it something I should be concerned about?

4 Comments

fix

by Tracey_E - 2009-11-01 06:11:03

Mine was turned on unipolar long enough for a stress test a few weeks ago. I hated the feeling and couldn't wait until they switched it back to bipolar! That sounds to me like a short term fix to hold you over until you can have it fixed right. Have you been back to your dr and are they going to replace the bad lead?

Hi,

by Gellia2 - 2009-11-01 08:11:20

I have unipolar wires. They are very old but still function well (so far).

I'm not sure how yours work, but with mine, the packemaker body (the "can") is part of the circuitry.
The charge uses the can to complete the circuit. This can cause muscle twitches and jerks if the can is near a muscle or nerve when the charge returns to it.

The jolts you feel every three hours may be the impedance check. They are preset to check every three hours and when mine would go off, it would make my whole arm jerk,.... badly. Not good if you have hot coffee in your hand. As I am a big coffee drinker, and my pacer is on the right side, this was ALOT. Fling!

The impedance check was something I didn't really need so I had my EP turn it to once daily and in the middle of the night so I don't feel it. That solved the problem.

I would be interested to know what you decide to do with your wire.

My very best to you.
Gellia

Unipolar

by ElectricFrank - 2009-11-01 11:11:40

As others have said unipolar is not the best way to be pacing. With modern pacemaker it is only used in emergency situations to carry you over until the problem can be fixed. The loss of capture corrected by going to unipolar is a pretty good indication of a defective lead. With a good lead capture can be regained by turning the pacing voltage up and remaining in bipolar. I experienced that situation a couple of years ago after having a virus.

So don't let them leave you this way just for their convenience. Insist on having it fixed.

frank

Lead Extraction

by abpear3 - 2009-11-03 09:11:52

Thanks for replying everyone,
I have a doctor's appt on Thursday so I'll know more then. I think the plan is to replace the lead if we can't get it working in bipolar mode again. Has anyone had a lead extraction performed before? What all does it entail, and is it more risky than implanting the pacemaker in the first place?

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