Third Surgery

Well, here I go again...I just got out of the hospital after having my third surgery on my pacemaker/diffibrulator (icd). My icd was put in on 10/28/09 with no complications. When I went for my interrogation about 8 weeks later, they found that the ventricle lead had detached and I had to go for a second surgery right before Christmas. Again, I went for another interrogation and they found that the upper lead was reading but not capturing. The doctor sent me for an xray and saw the icd and wires dangling.

They decided I needed another surgery. When the doctor went in he found that the icd turned, twisted and the leads were wrapped around it. By the way, I changed surgeons for the third surgery. The doctor told me that this was going to be a much more invasive surgery than the first two. It was supposed to be two hours and would up taking five. The atrial lead came right out but the ventricle lead had too much fibrosis so they had to use laser to get it out. This time the surgeon cut through the fat to find muscle so that he could stitch down the icd and the leads. This surgery was done on 4/28. I was in the hospital for five days this time. I came back to work today.

I am so frazzled, disgusted and tired. Sometimes I am very sorry that I ever started with the icd...three surgeries in less than six months.

Has anyone else had an experience similar to mine. I wondering if I can sue the first doctor or is this something that does happen?

Please let me know. If you would like to talk, my cell phone number is 917-297-3830.

Thanks,
Lorraine

5 Comments

repeated surgeries.

by musser75 - 2010-05-03 05:05:14

Hi Lorraine,
Some times, such complications happen. Do not blame your doctor or yourself. Your decision was right go on with an ICD. CD would surely save your life sometime in the future. Indeed one issue to mention: It could more wiser to change the leads with active fixation ones ( these are screwing leads), so third surgery could be avioded. Nevertheless everything's gonna be allright

No worries

by tcrabtree85 - 2010-05-04 03:05:19

Hi Lorraine,
I have gone through 3 pacers ina short amount of time 3 years. I understand the pain of having to go in for repeated surgeries but, it sounds like you are on the road to recovery.
I had 4 surgeries within 5 months when I first got a pacer with ablations and pacer and then a year in half after having the pacer my lead collapsed on me and they had to go in and replace it completely. I had to much scar tissue develop.
Well this time it didn't get burried as deep and it was hurting me a lot so they went in to hold in down better. I developed a really bad infection and had to have my pacer just completely replaced on the opposite side.
So in all in a short amount of time I have had lots of surgery 3 in less than 2 month and in a 3 year period 8 .
I am hopeful for you that this new surgeon was able to calm your nerves and get the ICD placed well for you. Stay positive as I know it gets hard sometimes but it sounds like you have a lot of strength with everything you have faced.
Send me a private message if you would ever like to talk.

Blessings,
Tammy

Surgeries

by Pookie - 2010-05-04 03:05:43

Hi

Unfortunately, it sometimes happens that some of us have to have more than just the implant surgery.

I had a total of 5 surgeries for my pacemaker.

1 = implant
2 = cardiac tamponade (to save my life as my heart sac filled with blood due to the lead falling and poking a hole in my heart - heart stopped beating not once, but twice)
3 = lead fell
4 = lead fell
5 = 5 months later had to have pacemaker taken out of my armpit and repositioned.

Some of us have all the luck!!!!!!!

Pookie

thanks all

by ltrivone - 2010-05-04 09:05:18

I guess as time passes, this whole icd experience will get easier. I wonder why did the pacemaker move the way it did and if there is anything I can do to avoid that happening again.

Lorraine

Movement

by tcrabtree85 - 2010-05-04 12:05:53

Hi Lorraine,
It sounds like that they fixed it this time so it wouldn't move around on you. By stitching it down more it shouldn't move.
I know it's scary at first thinking that it is going to happen again but over time you will get over that fear and hopefully get your life back.
Thinking of you!

Tammy

You know you're wired when...

You make store alarms beep.

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I, too, am feeling tons better since my implant.