Atrial Pacing - UPDATE

• by chip
• 2008-12-21 10:12:15
• General Posting
• 927 views
• 0 comments

As anyone who has read my past posts will know I’ve had a problem with atrial failure. The atrium will just not pump the blood and tries to work against the closed heart valves.

Many attempts to get adequate pacing established (including a thoracotomy) have failed.

UPDATE – I had surgery Thursday and the doctors were able to restore normal function to my heart by establishing pacing of the atrium.

The unique method used is the clincher and I hope anyone else out there with a similar problem will be helped.

The EP first attempted to place the lead in the atrium but could find no area that would conduct.

He then used a new ventricle lead from Medtronics and placed it just at the entrance of the coronary sinus. To his credit (and long story short) the atrium started to pace and normal rhythm was restored.

One problem – The area offers very little in the way of an anchor spot so the lead is just kind of hanging there. I have to be very careful for about a month, wear a sling 24/7, and move my left arm very little until the scar tissue holds the lead end in place.

I had been told by another thoracic surgeon that the establishment of atrial pacing was not possible in my case.

Thanks to a dedicated EP who would not give up and who was willing to go beyond the established norm I’m now feeling like a human again.

If anyone out there is having problems and would like the name & address of my EP please drop me a private message and I’ll get the info to you ASAP. He is really willing to go the extra mile for you, a rare quality in this day and age!

Merry Christmas to all and God Bless!