about leads

Someone posted a picture of the pacemaker, leads, & right atrium, & right ventricle with the name Adam in the lower right corner.There are both red and blue "arteries" or veins ? Do the leads go thru the veins or arteries? My question is does the lead wire (I have a single lead to the right ventricle (3rd degree block) and the pacemaker is just about the same place as on the picture.) always go thru the area by the clavacle or shoulder blade to hold it in place and rubbing on the bone? I keep forgetting to ask the EP who did the proceedure. My cardiologist seems to think it goes there and gave me concern about swimming and putting stress on the lead. Any ideas there without my placing a call to the EP? I hate to do that, but yet each time I swim (almost daily) I am aware of the possible problem. Thanks for any ideas.... aldeer

9 Comments

Leads

by turboz24 - 2009-10-05 03:10:10

""pocket" that has been opened up in a muscle just beneath the surface ". Usually the PM or ICD is placed either directly on top of the muscle or under the muscle, between the pec-major and pec-minor.

As for the vein access, several veins can be used and can be accessed at different locations.

How the lead is routed can affect if it's going to end up getting pinched between the collarbone and the upper rib when you move your arm up.

"Peace"

by aldeer - 2009-10-05 06:10:15

Hey, my EP and my cardio both had completely different takes on it so that is why I put it out there...to get different ideas not to start a war. I took them both (you Smitty & turbox24) as very good info, so please Smitty do not ever stop your very important comments. My EP encourages my swimming, and my cardio puts his pms very close to the collar bone (so does not encourage the reaching out of the arm). Not at all sure just how mine is implanted, so for now I just swim very slowly..... so please keep info coming.....an 81 year old mother of ten and grandma of 23 and great-grandma of five declaring lets have fun with a wonderful group of friends on pacemaker....aldeer

Don't Know What I'm Talking About!!

by SMITTY - 2009-10-05 06:10:55

Aldeer, please don't pay any attention to what I wrote. Obviously Turboz thinks I don't know sheep dip from wild honey about what I was talking about with that comment, so I shall leave it to the smart ones hereafter.

Turboz,if you wish, I'll give you the name of that dumb butt electrophyoligist that implanted my pacemaker and told me that is where he was placing my pacemaker and that the great vein would be used as the conduit for the leads.

I'm well aware that pacemakers can be placed in many areas of the body and that other blood vessels that can be used for getting the leads to the heart. But, if you will, take a look at the picture Aldeer was referring to before jumping to conclusions.

However, it really doesn't make a bit of difference to me now, because this is my last comment on the Pacemaker Club.

Adios

Smitty

by ElectricFrank - 2009-10-05 10:10:58

You can tell the difference between sheep dip and wild honey by the taste. G:

cheers,

frank

PM Lead Route

by SMITTY - 2009-10-05 12:10:39

Hell Aldeer,

I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong here, but in the picture you are talking about that is an example of a typical location of a pacemaker and the leads. The PM is usually tucked away in a "pocket" that has been opened up in a muscle just beneath the surface and does not touch any bones. My guess is that it would be a real problem to have a PM touching bone.

Anyway, the leads as shown in the picture enter the heart through what is called the The superior vena cava (also know as the great vein) which is large diameter vein that carries blood from the upper half of the body to the heart's right atrium. The lead going into the ventricle is then passed through the mitral valve into the ventricle. So far as I know it makes no difference if you have a one or two lead PM the lead(s) follow this route.

Smitty

Sorry

by SMITTY - 2009-10-05 12:10:59

Aldeer, I'm sorry, that was supposed to be HELLO Aldeer. My fingers do not always hear my brain.

thanks

by aldeer - 2009-10-06 09:10:41

Thanks, Frank....there are times we really need a sense of humor.... life is just too short:)
Turboz24.. thanks for info. I wondered just what bones the cardio was talking about that might cause the wear & tear on the lead and leave me basically without a heart. My pm is two years old and still going strong. aldeer

about leads

by cordial - 2009-10-07 02:10:15

For what it's worth. Veins are always blue (no oxygen content) and arteries are always red (with oxygen) in anatomical drawings. Pacemaker leads are called transvenous leads because they are always implanted using veins leading to the right side (non-oxygen side) of the heart. If arteries were used they would take the leads to the oxgengenated/left side of the heart and cause serious clotting risks. The leads generally fibrose quickly in the heart and should be firmly in place within a month of surgery.

Hope this helps.

thank you so very much

by aldeer - 2009-10-07 08:10:46

Cordial, that is the very question that I really wanted answered about veins & arteries and colors. Thank you so very much....have a wonderful day... aldeer

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