Three missing leads

Hi to everbody- I'm a new member! My problem is that of May 2009 I'm on my 2nd pacemaker within a year and I have 3 leads that are not working and my cardiologist wants to remove them. From my research I am fearful that this is a dangerous operation?? - (I have CHF & I am 71 yrs old.) I would like to know if there is anyone that has had 3 leads removed and what the results were? I am going to the Mayo Clinic in Jan. & I hope they can remove them up there. I believe that they have most likely have more experience in this surgery than my cardiologist has. If anyone has had this surgery I would like to know the details of the surgery, how painful, how many days in the hospital etc.Thanks so much for any advice you can give me. I am so happy to be part of your Pacemaker Club!!

5 Comments

Something to ask about

by ElectricFrank - 2009-11-30 01:11:00

While you are seeing Mayo I suggest asking their opinion as to why you have had so many leads fail. The only two options I can think of is that your heart wall is in poor shape (fat tissue,plaque, scare tissue) or the cardiologist that did the implant isn't very competent. I would tend towards the later.

frank

I had my pm for a year in half

by tcrabtree85 - 2009-11-30 01:11:35

I am 24 had my pm for a year in 10 months when I needed it completely changed. When the Dr went to pull out the leads he was not able to get one of them out b/c of the risk of bleeding. He was just pulling on them. He did not have lazer option.
I am going in soon to have that old lead removed via a lazer. They say the lazer is not as bad. I live in Iowa and have two options though Iowa city or Mayo Clinic to get it done. So I suggest that you seek out Mayo Clinic and the Dr's views there and have the procedure done there. I wish you luck.

Tammy

removing leads

by Tracey_E - 2009-11-30 06:11:53

It sounds like you have a bi-ventricular pm? Your leads have been in for less than a year so the atrial and ventricle should come right out the same way they went in. I don't know about the 3rd, I've never heard of anyone having it removed. After the a year or so, the leads are grown into place and the procedure to remove them gets more complicated. They use a laser to remove the lead from the scar tissue but I don't think you've had yours long enough to warrant this. There are a few members here who have had extractions, if you do a search it should come up. But I really don't think you have had yours long enough to warrant that.

Three Missing Leads

by Heartsick - 2009-12-03 03:12:19

Thanks to everbody for your comments. The problems with my three leads have always been in the top of my heart - the cardiologist says I have very small blood vessels around my heart. The last wire he put in was the newest one and the most thinnest one - it was developed by NASA. The wire at the bottom part of my heart is the only one working (besides my defib - I have never had any trouble with that but because the top lead has never worked and now there are three of them in there my pacemaker had to be replaced in May 09 only 1 yr. from my lst pacemaker. I definitely will have some questions to ask the doctors at Mayo Clinic and I have faith that they can help me. Tammy, I live in Illinois so we will have to compare info after we get back..My son is driving up from Texas and he & my husband are taking me to Mayo Clinic. I wish you much luck!! Sandy

Good luck!

by Hot Heart - 2009-12-07 06:12:27

HH

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