Epicardial Lead placement Tomorrow

I am getting a little anxious about the surgery scheduled for tomorrow. They will be removing one lead from inside my heart and putting one on the outside. I thought it was just one incision on my left side, but I'm wondering if they will have to open up my shoulder incision to attach the new lead to the pacemaker/defib. Does anyone know? Susan

3 Comments

Epicardial Lead placement

by Pookie - 2010-02-12 05:02:02

Hi Susan.

I'm sorry but I don't have a clue what your surgery will entail.

But please let us know how you make out.

Keep us posted!!!!!!

good luck,
Pookie

Epicardia lead

by jvaltos - 2010-02-13 11:02:46

Typically this is made through an incision over the heart between two ribs. The lung is moved out of the way and the pericardium is peeled away.

Then, the surgeon places one or two leads and measure the thresholds, amplitude, etc. The good news is that it is a very low risk procedure. The bad news is that sometimes, despite the best efforts of the surgeon, you still get a lead that doesn't work very well (high pulse width to capture, increased battery drain, nerve stimulation, etc.)

At that point, it can wither be tunneled to the existing pacemaker (yes it will have to be opened up to connect) or in the rare case, another simple pacemaker can be attached and sewn into the abdomen. (The second option is not ideal and causes difficulty with programming, but I have seen it performed.)

Good luck

Robotic surgery option

by herbsgunshop - 2015-12-17 03:12:17

I see many institutions are using robotic surgery now for doing this procedure endoscopically. Only several small incisions.
I may have to have this done and I am only considering this option.

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