Noise

I had my fourth pacemaker implanted in August 2011 and I am currently experiencing "noise" in the atrial lead. Specifically when I cross my arms, or press my left arm against a table or door or even my mattress at night, my heart starts to pound (my current pacemaker is implanted on the left side). Have any of you experienced this condition? What do you think is happening?

My EP ordered a venogram and discovered that the veins on my left side were too blocked to go through and so he considered tunneling for awhile. But my question is: Will a new lead solve my problem? I also have aortic stenosis. Could that be causing the "noise" in the atrial lead?

Furthermore, the clinic sent me a letter and stated that they "may" implant a newest model pacemaker on the right-hand side and put in entirely new leads. They would simply cap the old leads. I need to regress here and say that the EP implanted the same old model pacemaker I had before, because my leads are currently 27 years old.

I am not ready to "buy the farm" but I need all the information I can get, because I am not pleased with what I have experienced and heard so far. Thank you for listening (reading)!

2 Comments

Old Leads

by donr - 2012-03-09 09:03:28

Hut: Some logical guesswork here, based on some assumptions.

Dunno exactly what you mean by noise in the atrial lead. BUT... 27 yr old leads could lead to some interesting things happening.

First - technology has ran amok in 27 yrs & leads are probably much improved. Assuming that your leads are the same as mine that are but a mere 9 yrs old, they are coaxial - a conductor inside another conductor sheath, separated by an insulator - just like the leads used in transmitting TV signals around the house. The body is an extremely corrosive environment & it is possible that the protective sheath over the outer conductor has degraded & permitted chemical erosion of the outer conductor or the insulator. Then when you press on it, there is a short circuit between the two conductors, causing some unusual effects.

Did he consider "Tunneling" to remove the old leads & replacing them? That has become a common, though difficult, procedure these days. Every EP cannot do it - because of the skill required w/ the laser "Roto Rooter" used to perform the procedure.

You do not mention where Zeeland is in MI, but if you have not been to a major med ctr w/ an EP practiced in lead extraction, you might consider going to one for an opinion. Usually you find these guys (male & female type guys) at teaching/ med school affiliated hosps.

Don

Noise...

by golden_snitch - 2012-03-09 09:03:37

Hi!

I had noise in my atrial lead, just seven years after it was implanted. The impedance also peaked at times, so my EP was sure there was a lead fracture somewhere. I had it replaced, and everything's been fine ever since I got the new lead. No more noise.
Don't think something like aortic stenosis can be the source of noise. From what I know it's always lead fracture or insulation defect, so that the lead suddenly "hears" noise from the mucles etc.

Best wishes
Inga

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