Lenghty Surgery

I will be having a serious lenghty surgery scheduled for June 2 2011. Will my heart doctor okay this surgery with my pacemaker which I had implanted 5-2007. The surgery is approximtely 6 hours long. The doctors doing the surgery have contacted my heart doctor for approval. I am very concerned about this.

5 Comments

Major Surgery

by donb - 2011-05-25 04:05:42

Hi, I had a major back surgery (Laminectormy) of 4 1/2 hours back in 2000 after having my PM 8 years prior. Nothing was even mentioned to me about consultation with my Cardiologist prior to surgery. As I endured some physical stress drapped over a saw horse upside down for this period of time during the surgery I would now want a prior approval. From your posting not mentioning your heart's problem it only leaves this question to your Cardiologist. donb

hi mama mia

by Hot Heart - 2011-05-25 05:05:39

I had lengthy surgery on my throat six weeks ago, my pacemaker wasn't the slightest problem. Good luck with your surgery I hope it all goes well.

HH

lengthy surgery

by iamsrg - 2011-05-25 07:05:35

I've had a couple of long surgeries since my PM was implanted and did get my EP to clear me in advance per the surgeon's requirement. I think it will depend on whether you are PM dependent, but the anesthelogist will be monitoring you very closely so no worries even if you are. Also, whether they need to use electrocautery. During one of my surgeries they did use electrocautery and on a subsequent interrogation that caused some abnormalities that were traced to during the time of the surgery that could have been as a result of that (or maybe some other cardiac issue during the surgery) but I woke up to tell the tale so no harm done! :)

Good luck with your procedure and it is definitely a good idea to get your heart doctor's OK first.

Surgery

by mama mia - 2011-05-25 07:05:46

My pacmaker was implanted 5-2007 and I have never had a problem. The implant was due to Bradycardia. Thanks for the information

Communication Between Docs

by Yakkwak - 2011-05-28 06:05:06

You should be just fine. I've had four major back surgeries since my PM was implanted. From one, I had an experience similar to that if "iamsrg" (above). The pm tech said that the readout shows (tell-tale) signs that the cautery equipment could have potentially damaged the device (but didn't), and that the neurosurgeon hadn't taken adequate precautions during the surgery. As long as the surgeon checks and makes certain that his settings are ok - I think that it is the duration of use at any one time that affects the pm. Have the surgeon look you in the eye and promise he's going to follow adequate precautions he was given. It looks like you are in GOOD hands as he's already talked with the heart doc. I was fortunate, despite the readouts (that looked like I had gone through hell), I was FINE and so was the pm. Blessings!

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