CRT coming through skin

I am a rather thin person and my device was placed under the skin on my left side. I have been doing great since the implantation however, I noticed that where the leads are attached to the device is pushing through my skin. My doctor wants to implant under the pectoral muscle but this surgery was discontinued due to a recall from the FDA for a process mistake by the company that made the device. My question is has anyone else experience this problem and is there anything other than surgery I might be able to do to help alleviate the skin becoming so thin around the head of the device.

4 Comments

Leads

by westj814 - 2010-04-15 05:04:00

I too have that problem. I am very small and the PM and leads really bulge on me. My bra strap really irritates the site. I am afraid the skin may become so thin something will need to be done. I plan on asking my cardiologist and the rep next time I am interrogated. If I find an answer, I will let you know.

Me too

by qwerty - 2010-04-15 06:04:19

I have already talked to my dr. and he said it could be a problem in the future for me. He wanted me to keep it padded as much as possible. He noted that while this is an issue, the option of surgery has risks involved. He asked me to live with it until 6 months post PM and see if I could tolerate it. If not, we would talk about the options then. If the wires start coming through the skin, I won't have options but the Dr really didn't want to take the risks associated with another surgery if I could tolerate the irratation. And, I have to admit, I am getting used to mine a little. If they start coming through the skin, I wont have a choice. But, right now, I don't want another surgery unless it is absolutly necessary. My Doctor actually told me to Gain some weight. Unfortunately, gaining weight won't help my incision site, it always accumulates a lot lower than that.
Let everyone her know what your dr. says. This is obviously not an uncommon problem.
Thanks

Thanks

by linda4heart - 2010-04-16 11:04:08

Thanks to both of you. I too believe I will watch it and try and live with it by keeping it padded and watching the color of the skin. My dr. says that when it is going to break through the skin turns a dark red or blue. I am also afraid of surgery and then the other thing is when the battery dies they will have to cut that muscle again which I hear from my dr. is very painful.

Had mine moved

by CdnAngel - 2010-06-30 12:06:46

I had mine moved in March for the same thing. I've had a pacemaker for over 20 years and never had any problems. My surgeon made the new pocket deep under muscle. It's already worked it's way out on it's own and is now under the skin again. Don't know what we'll try next...

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