In doubt
- by Vicens
- 2010-03-13 01:03:20
- Conditions, Meds & Tests
- 1875 views
- 5 comments
Hi everybody:This winter I've taken, as well as other checkings, a colonoscopy. It wen Ok, but they found a small (6 millimeters) polyp the doctor did not dare to remove, as I had told him not to use any electrical device on me, because of my pacemaker.
I told my cardiologist, the one who did the implant,(we live in different cities) what could be done, and he said if was question of getting another colonoscopy. The day before it, he or his assistant -(the one who checks my PM) would place the PM in a "safe" mode and they will put it in my "usual" mode after the op.
I found it too easy. What if I do not bear well the "safe/unusual" mode ? What if in the middle of the act,my PM goes awire ?
I truly trust my doctor. He is widely respected in his area, but I'm in doubt.
Has anyone experienced the same condition ?
I surely would appreciate any advice or comment.
Bye
5 Comments
PM Safe Mode
by sherida - 2010-03-13 05:03:49
It is not unusual to put a pacemaker in this 'safe mode' during coagulation-procedures. Bipolar coagulation won't hurt the pacemaker and even unipolar coagulation (when the indifferent electrode is put on the leg, and not somewhere on the other side of the pacemaker) is not expected to be a problem.
The safe mode a pacemaker goes in to when battery is about to die is more an 'energy saving mode'. 65 paces per min. is not a programable frequency, and indicates that the pacemaker should be changed. So is 85 paces per min., indicating the pacemaker is brand new!
(Please note that this is for PM's from one specific manufacturer, not all manufacturers!)
Anyway, don't be afraid, temporarily changing the settings is just for your safety! And is safe enough!
All the best
Sherida
Safe Mode
by ElectricFrank - 2010-03-14 01:03:53
Does that mean that most of the time our pacemakers are in Dangerous Mode??? (: Now I'm worried.
frank
If you like to call it dangerous....
by sherida - 2010-03-15 07:03:07
Don't worry! Normal setting is safe enough! Just in special situations we have to take precautions. When there is a risk of interference with the pacemaker, we must be quite sure that no beat is missed because of external influences. Than we 'force' the pacemaker to pace in a fixed rate. Under normal conditions this is absolutely unnecessary and even unwanted!
We just adapt the settings to the conditions.
compare this: the safeste way not to get involved in a traffic accident is to stay at home. But do we all stay home? No, we don't! But we do wear seatbelts... That will do! ;)
Grtz Sherida
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PM Safe Mode
by SMITTY - 2010-03-13 02:03:47
Hi Vicens,
The safe mode for pacemakers I'm familiar with is one where they shift the PM from being an on demand PM to one that gives a constant heart rate. About the same thing happens when they put the magnet over the PM during a checkup.
In the case of it being put in safe mode for a surgical procedure, the doctor will put in settings for the safe mode that will sustain you during the procedure. Then the only way your PM could go haywire is if it quit working all together and the chance of that is about the same as a meteorite crashing through the roof of the hospital and hitting you.
My opinion is that you are in much greater danger by not having that polyp removed than you are with having your PM put in a safe mode. Frankly, if I were in the same situation I would want the Dr to know I had a PM, but I would not say don't' do the procedure because of concern about it interrupting the operation of my PM.
When the battery died on my first PM it went into a safe mode (the manufacturer calls it the VVI mode) it held my heart rate at a constant 65 BPM. I was aware of something different going on with the PM, but I had no problems waiting until I could get a replacement..
Smitty