Corroded St. Jude Leads

Is it just me or is anyone else out there experiencing problems and happen to have St June Leads Model 1888TC/52 and/or 1888TC46. Had these leads implanted 7-31-08 and extracted on 9-16-08. Leads were corroded and appeared to have been implanted for years not 6 weeks according to my EP.

4 Comments

faulty leads

by Chesca - 2008-10-14 10:10:17

Hi.
I got my pm put in last dec and had problems since the start. Turns out one of the leads is faulty. I am scheduled to get a new PM and a new lead in three weeks!!! I have been having intense problems (from the leads) for about two months now). So, let's see, that means the leads were fine for about 8 and a half months. I am curious to see what they look like. In fact, I have plans to ask for the PM and lead....I wonder if they will give them to me.

How was the extraction? I am worried that they won't be able to get them out and then it's get more complex from there.

What symptoms were you having as the leads started failing?



souvenirs

by Tracey_E - 2008-10-14 10:10:23

It probably depends on your doctor, but I still have my first pm. It's in my scrapbook :o) I don't know about the leads, do they survive the extraction in one piece? Are they taking your old leads out? Unless they are causing problems (as opposed to just not working), they usually leave them in.

Burning Pain, Pain Pain

by 60bpm - 2008-10-14 10:10:44

I had a very intense burning pain right across my collarbone. At times it would radiate up my neck and across to my right collarbone. At other times it would be a nagging ache under my collarbone. I was miserable from the 2nd week until the extraction 6 weeks after initial implant.
I would seriously doubt they'd give them to you if they show any signs of wear/tear or corrosion. They sent mine to pathology and then onto St. Jude for further testing. BTW do you have any known metal allergies, nickel, gold, titanium?

60BPM

You're not the only one

by Dee96 - 2008-12-10 06:12:28

I had those same 2 leads implanted April '07, diagnosed with a fracture in July '08 and just had extraction and replacement of the ventricular lead in Nov '08

It went very smoothly (old lead slipped right out), but they were prepared to do laser extraction, deep anesthesia, and worst case emergency open heart surgery if the laser slipped. Pretty scary. As it was, I only needed "conscious sedation" and less than an hour.

I don't know which lead was ventricular - is there a way to tell from my card? One says RA-LEAD and the other says RVOT-LEAD. I'm wondering if I should have had them both replaced while I was in there!

My only symptoms were occasional slight dizzyness, much less severe than pre-PM. I'm glad I found this site!

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You make store alarms beep.

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