New pm

Hello all,

I have a medtronic pm and will have a new one in about a year or so. What do they excactly do. Just replace the pm? The leads will stay in wright? How did you experience this operation. Any tips? What should i ask for, since i am getting a new one?

Thanks for your resonse in advance

Nienke
The Netherlands

4 Comments

Geting A Replacement Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2011-01-21 09:01:23


Hello Nienke,

I posted this for someone several weeks ago that was getting their first pacemaker. This is actually a recap of my experience of getting a replacement pacemaker, but as well as I can remember the first one in 2000 there was no difference the two procedures.

I arrived at the hospital at 7 AM. I was shown to my room and given the usual hospital garb to put on. While I was doing that, the nurse was gathering up the needed supplies in order to insert an IV through which they gave me about a quart of antibiotics. I understand getting an antibiotic is standard procedure to reduce the possibility of get an infection. Getting that much antibiotic through an IV takes a while and for the next few hours, I read a book or watched TV.

About 1 PM I was wheeled into the OR where I was prepped more and given medicine (valium I think) to relax me. What it did was make me drowsy. By the time they finished washing and scrubbing the area of the pacemaker removal-implant and getting me draped and etc, I was dosing off. I was given an injection to deaden the area and that is the last thing I remember until the doctor was calling my name and telling me they were through and everything went fine.

The surgery had taken about 45 minutes and it was now it was about 2 PM. I was wheeled back to my room where I was given food for the first time that day. After waiting a few hours to be sure I would not have an adverse reaction to any of the medicines I had taken I was allowed to go home. Pain during the procedure, on the 1 to 10 scale, was never more than a 5 and that was for just a few minutes.

While I was not allowed to sleep on the side of my pacemaker, I had no problems sleeping that night without any sleep aids. My pain medication was 400 mg of ibuprofen every 4 to 6 hours for a couple of days. For the next few days I did favor my left arm and side so as to not disturb the leads. In fact I had to favor the left side, to a lesser degree each day, for about 3 weeks, at which time I went in for a check up.

That is pretty much my entire story of getting a replacement pacemaker.

Good luck to you,

Smitty

Leads

by SMITTY - 2011-01-21 09:01:23

Hello Again,

I forgot to mention the leads. Yes the leads stay in place unless one, or both, are found to be defective. It is very seldom a lead is defective, so I say expect to keep your old leads.

Smitty

Replacement

by ElectricFrank - 2011-01-21 11:01:50

I can only speak for having the pacemaker placed under the skin just below the clavicle. In this case the replacement is very simple. They just open the pocket, remove the old one, lay it on your chest next to the new one, and quickly switch the ventricle lead to the new one. During the change over you may skip a beat or two, but this no problem. The atrial lead isn't even noticeable as it is changed. Then the new pacer is put back in the existing pocket it is sutured shut.

The important difference between the original and the replacement is since the leads aren't changed you don't have the restrictions on arm movements or lifting things. (Pain will let you know how much to do and when).

My whole procedure took about 45 minutes and I chose to have it done without sedatives or anesthesia. At least for me even that was easy. Add another few hours waiting for O.R. time and maybe an antibiotic IV (good idea) and half a day as outpatient is about right. I l left the hospital about 5:00PM, went home and fixed my own meal. Good nites sleep and was out for a couple of mile walk the next day. As they say "you mileage may vary". LOL

best,
frank

Watching changeover

by ElectricFrank - 2011-01-23 12:01:39

I was totally awake and carrying on a conversation with the surgical team, but I couldn't see it. They had a sterile tent over my face. I had asked the cardiologist to go over the procedure in detail with me before the surgery and then listened to his conversation with Medtronic rep and nursing staff. I asked a few questions and requested that they give me the old one. The Intraoperative Nursing record says "Dr. discussed procedure with patient". The Cardiologist report says estimated blood loss was 1 ml, which isn't much, but can look like a lot. I would liked to have watched so I could do it myself next time. LOL

frank

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I had a pacemaker since 2002 and ever since then my life has been a total blessing.