pacemaker location

Could anyone help me with information about pacemaker placement. I am pretty thin and the pacemaker really seems to stick out. Sometimes if I am really active with my upper body the pacemaker site becomes red, sore, and irritated. The Dr said he would move it to a better site under the muscle. Does anyone have experience with a relocated pacemaker pocket and the benefits or not of having it under muscle?
Thanks,
Tom

8 Comments

Choice of site

by ElectricFrank - 2011-01-26 01:01:06

The main advantage to the location directly under the skin on the chest is that it involves the least invasive surgery. I would think placing it under a muscle would be more like to have problems with exercise. After all the muscle is going to be active and the pacer will be squeezed between the muscle and the the ribs.

'Have you had the pacer long enough to let everything heal? I'm also quite thin, but have never had much problem with activity. It is possible to have the area of the pacer where the leads connect irritate the tissue in the pocket. That part of the pacer with leads attached is a bit rough.

You might try doing some sort of activity on a regular basis that presses on the pacer area. The idea is to work up slowly to give the pocket area a chance to adapt.

frank

moved

by theduke - 2011-01-26 02:01:19

hi,

I had mine moved for that very reason. It was on my left pectral its now under my left armpit. I barley notice it!

Good luck.

D

Thanks for input

by TSA - 2011-01-26 05:01:12

I have had mine for 50 months. One of my leads broke and now I have to have some surgery. They are going to remove the lead and said while they are doing the surgery they could move the unit. I appreciate the posts.I wondered to if I could be worse off with a move. I had not heard about under the armpit. Is there a web site that talks about placement? Is it mostly Dr's preference. Move people have it right up front right? What are the words to search it. I had some trouble finding it.
Thanks,
Tom

subpectoral

by Tracey_E - 2011-01-26 07:01:17

As Frank said, sometimes they settle in as they heal. It's possible to put it subpectoral. Mine is submammary, that won't work for you LOL. Putting it between the pectorals seems to be a better solution that putting it in the muscle. If you do a search, there have been quite a few discussions of this and a few members who have done it.

If your dr hasn't done this, consider asking for a plastic surgeon. That's how mine was done, it's put in from the side and buried completely posterior to the breast by a plastic surgeon. The benefit of burying it is you don't feel it and it's less likely to get in the way when you exercise.

yes

by Tracey_E - 2011-01-26 10:01:31

The most common place to put it is just under the clavicle, just under the skin. Talk to your surgeon about moving it deeper if it's bothering you. It's definitely been there long enough to settle! They usually watch it a year before doing a relocation. As long as they're fixing up the lead and giving you a new device, they might as well fix up the pocket so it's more comfortable for you.

I'll repeat my plastic surgeon advice. EP's and cardiologists are heart drs, their expertise is getting your heart fixed and the icd/pm in there. A plastic surgeon's expertise is making things look and feel good. If your surgeon hasn't done a subpectoral placement before, or hasn't done a lot of relocations, ask for him to consult with someone who has.

pm placement

by patio - 2011-01-28 09:01:14

Really Tom, try being a female, your bra strap hits it everyday, hate it after surgery.

Pectoral muscle location

by mthead55 - 2011-02-27 08:02:38

I have had one in my right pectoral muscle since 1991. First PM I had was under skin on right chest. I am very active and had the same problem you are having. After a few months, mine ended up wearing through the skin and getting infected. They had to replace it and decided on the pectoral muscle location. Only problem is some discomfort when lying on that side. That PM is not functioning (due to battery failure and broken leads). Had one put under the skin on left chest and really think I prefer the pectoral implant. That is the way to go. Much less discomfort and not visable.

Newbie

by Lonigirl08 - 2015-11-18 02:11:17

Hi.

I've had my pacemaker for just 8 months and it bothers me a lot. I saw my cardiologist yesterday and she suggests that the pacemaker be moved under my muscle. For those of you who have had it moved, what is the recovery time?

Thanks!

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At age 20, I will be getting a pacemaker in few weeks along with an SA node ablation. This opportunity may change a five year prognosis into a normal life span! I look forward to being a little old lady with a wicked cane!