slightly angry

I’m 22 years old, and I have had 3 surgeries in the past 5 years for the same ICD. It was implanted, and leads fractured. Completely replaced, and the leads broke again. The leads were replaced again, and since I had the "top of the line" leads this time, I was confident that I wouldn’t need another surgery until my battery needed replacing. I had a post-op visit today, (6 months after the last surgery) and it shows that my resistance on the new lead is getting higher. This could just mean scar tissue or the lead setteling in, but it could also be the start of my lead fracturing again. My resistance started at 400, and 6 months later it is up to 1000. My electrophysiologist said it needs to be monitored and if the numbers plateau, I am alright. If the numbers are on a steady incline and they reach near, on, or past 2000, it is definite that the leads will need replacing again. My question of frustration is WHY do my leads keep fracturing?? I am a very petite, thin, active girl, with prolonged Q-T syndrome. (my ICD is under the muscle, I don’t have much substance to hide it under) Am I doing something wrong? Is it just bad luck?? Please offer advice, all of these surgeries are getting quite annoying. Thank you!!

4 Comments

Hi

by tcrabtree85 - 2010-09-30 03:09:03

Hi and welcome to the club. I am 24 and have had issues with my pm doing similar things. Mine was b/c of scar tissue though I have a lot of scar tissue problems. From what I read is the younger you are the more you scar and the more risk of the fractured leads then I would think be higher. I am sorry you are facing all of this. In a 3 1/2 year period I have had 13 procedures done for my heart. Not a lot compared to some of the others.. I will be thinking of you and hope you get the answers you need.


Tammy C.

Update?

by LongQuTie - 2010-11-09 07:11:13

I am currently having a similar issue. However I was told that it looks like my body is "rejecting" the leads (2nd set). I was also told that if they are rejected that I will have to have external pads placed on the outside of my heart. Can you please let me know what has happened with you since your post? It does feel a lot like a pile of bad luck.

Update

by JoFosqk226 - 2010-11-09 08:11:48

I was told at my last check up in October that my body isn't rejecting the leads, it is a combination of my body type, activity level, and just being full of bad luck. My leads fracture, they don't push out or anything else. I have had 3 different placements, and have never had the option of having the external pads. (I wouldn't really want them anyways!) It seems that the set I have now is somewhat in the process of breaking...yippie. I just have to listen for my alarm and if it goes off, the cause is most likely another fracture. I wish I could help you out more and have more answers, but it turns out I am looking for the same thing! Hopefully their newer models will have stronger equipment so we don't have to have these repeat surgeries anymore. Best of luck, and keep me posted if you find anything out!!

Jodie

Do you carry a magnet around?

by Katelyn - 2011-02-05 02:02:14

Hi,
I am a 24 yr old female with an ICD. My right ventricle lead fractured last summer. 40 mins prior to the fracture the alarm went off to warn me, but before I could get to the hospital, I had a shock storm- 7 inappropriate shocks later, I was able to get the EMTs to deactivate the device with a magnet. Did you experience any inappropriate shocks?

I have had my device since 2003, and this was by FAR the most traumatic event that has ever occurred to me, I had awful nightmares and phantom shocks for the following weeks. I now carry a magnet with me everywhere I go, if you do not have one, I would highly recommend getting one from your Dr or device rep.

Hang in there, one of these days they will make a wireless device were we don't have to worry about lead fractures...

http://www.medcitynews.com/2010/08/medtronic-inc-start-ups-eye-leadless-heart-devices/

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

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