How common is it to pull/dislodge a lead?

Hey,

I'm kinda new here, I had my first pacemaker implanted 2 1/2 weeks ago due to high grade AV Block.

I was just wondering how common it is to pull/dislodge a lead? I have my first checkup (+xray and echo) in a few days. I was told not to lift my arm above my head for the first 4 weeks after surgery but I have totally cheated!!! as soon as it was strong enough I've been lifting my arm above my head for necessary things....maybe a dozen times or so.

Just wondering how common it is to dislodge a lead just after surgery? and if anyone has ever had this happen, what does it feel like & did they need more surgery to correct the placement of the lead?

9 Comments

Getting checked today myself.

by COBradyBunch - 2010-07-26 02:07:39

I just went through a bike v. SUV collision and after checking here and checking with my docs office they are having me in to check things out. Since I pace very little (less than 1% at last checkup) I wouldn't notice unless I passed out that my lead was messed up so they are going to check me out just to be sure. BTW, I am about 13 months post implant.

I would follow instructions and keep the arm down and limit your lifting. You don't want to have them go back in if at all preventable, even if only for the risk of infection. I know because I have an infection post implant and it SUCKED. Incision looked good, wasn't running a fever but I hurt from my jaw, through my upper chest and down my left arm. Felt just like they say a heart attack feels but mine was constant for almost 2 weeks. Only when they put me on some strong antibiotics did it knock the pain down.

not common, but

by Tracey_E - 2010-07-26 08:07:57

It's not common, if you follow instructions! Not to be too blunt, but overusing that arm is asking for trouble. Moving the arm puts stress on the leads, that's why they tell us to keep the arm down and it has nothing to do with how good we feel. You can and should use your arm, but keep it down and don't lift. Some drs say as long as 8 but 4 is the minimum and 6 is average.

If you dislodged a lead, you would feel like you did before you got the pm because it would no longer be pacing you, sometimes with hiccups.

It'll be over before you know it and you'll be able to do whatever you want! But try to behave a bit longer :o)

fixing it

by Tracey_E - 2010-07-26 08:07:58

Sorry, missed some of your questions. Yes, we've had members with a dislodged lead. They do another surgery to correct it.

I've had a dislodged lead

by Angelie - 2010-07-26 11:07:31

IT's NOT FUN. They re-open the scar that's not even healed and re-attach it again. Mine dislodged before I even left the hospital but wasn't "officially" discovered until a week later. I knew I felt bad, but didn't even imagine that it could be a loose lead.

The lead is attached to tissue that is as delicate as the lining of the inside of mouth, like the inside of your cheek.

Mind your restrictions. There's a reason for them, but hey it's ultimately up to you.

Ok I won't lift my arm

by Anita Sword - 2010-07-27 11:07:37

I know I should listen to what the doc said, but he also said I'd recover faster than the average PM recipient because I'm about 40 years younger. I feel fine, I'm not PM dependant - just wanted to know if it had happened to anyone...looks like it has! I'll be good for the next few weeks, I just hope it all goes well at the check up 2moro then!
BTW how do u know if you've pulled/dislodged the lead if your not dependant on your PM?

That's what my doc told me

by Anita Sword - 2010-07-28 12:07:22

I don't know about world wide stats but my cardiologist said that <2% of PM recipients in New Zealand are under that age of 30 (that's me). It seems to correlate to the stats on the FAQ of this website too....

Well I just hope it all goes well tomorrow and I haven't pulled a lead!

healing

by Tracey_E - 2010-07-30 10:07:55

Healing quickly means we FEEL better faster, we bounce back more easily. It has nothing to do with how quickly the scar tissue develops around the lead and secures it in place.

The average age here is a whole lot lower than the average age in general! We have a much higher percentage of young recipients than your average drs office. I've had a pm for 16 yrs now and my dr finally got his first patient younger than me last year. I'm 43 and got my first pm at 27, that was a lot of years to be the baby, lol.

Yuss the lead is still in the right place

by Anita Sword - 2010-08-14 10:08:27

Hey, Thanks for all your comments. I thought I'd tell you how it went at the PM Clinic....GREAT!!! The xray showed the lead was still where they inserted it, the technician paced my PM at 100bpm my R-wave was 32! I'm so stoked I don't need more surgery!

lead dislodged or not?

by PIANOWORMY - 2013-01-24 12:01:22

When you all dislodged a lead, was there any pain? I had my pm put in about a week and a half now. Was just cleared to drive, and yesterday I twisted around to check to see where a car was behind me, and from about 10 min after that till now off and on I have had a very sharp pain in my upper left chest and neck area into my throat. Haven't had it checked out yet, and don't want to be the one that over reacts to every little pain.

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