Reading some of others

I read where a man died after developing an infection and having to have open heart surgery and died.

Is it common to get an infection AFTER you're healed??

Does the pacemaker have to be replaced if you get an infection??

When the batteries run down do they have to remove everything or just change the batteries?

So what Elaine was saying is that open heart surgery has to happen if the leads can't be removed easily?? How often does that happen?

It takes a lot to make me feel faint, but that's what I feel. Faint and sick and scared.
Booknbrdcrzy (Victoria)

4 Comments

not that bad

by Tracey_E - 2008-11-10 06:11:30

These are extreme cases, not normal!!!!!

Is it common to get an infection AFTER you're healed?? VERY RARE

Does the pacemaker have to be replaced if you get an infection?? I THINK SO

When the batteries run down do they have to remove everything or just change the batteries? THEY LEAVE THE LEADS ALONE UNLESS YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. THE PM ITSELF- LEAD GENERATOR AND BATTERY ARE BOTH REPLACED BECAUSE IT'S ONE UNIT

So what Elaine was saying is that open heart surgery has to happen if the leads can't be removed easily?? How often does that happen? RARELY!!! FIRST OF ALL, IT'S RARE TO HAVE A NEED TO REMOVE LEADS. IF THEY HAVE TO, THAT IS A POSSIBLE COMPLICATION

Recovered from Infection + leads not extracted

by wadey023 - 2008-11-10 06:11:37

g'day PM buddy,

I had a serious PM infection, and was advised by dozens of medicos from Cardiologists to Infectious diseases specialists, that the PM had to be replaced, and the leads need to be extracted.

I live in Panama, and was told I had to go to the USA as they don't have the laser equipment nor the doctors with the know how to extract leads in Panama hospitals.

I metr a cardiologist here from Mexico, and he examined me, and concluded that as the infection was localised to the pocket only, and I had no symptoms of systemic infection, that the leads need not be removed.

His arguments were based on statistical info he gave me, also the fact that the procedure to remove the leads is highly dangerous and risky, and his belief from reviewing sonograms, echograms,Xrays, etc that the leads were not infected.

I elected to go with Cardiologist for the replacement of the PM

In hospital for 2 weeks with IV antibiotics, then released and continued AB's for another 4 weeks.

With his skill and expertise, and God's help, its been six months since the replacement, I stilll have the leads inside me, and I am perfectly well

My cardiologist did explain back then at the time if there were indications the leads were infected, he still would not have removed them, but simply treated with AB's
He believed its a US business model to push the need to remove the leads.

He quoted that around the world there a millions of people with PMs, and countless of them get infected, and these people do not have laser lead extractions, and they are still alive and well

Hope this helps and reassures you, the extraction may not be a necessary option, unless your infection is really bad and systemic, but in the end, I am just quoting you my experience, and not suggesting that my experience should be followed

good luck m8, and best wishes

peter g

I had leads extracted and all is well

by bionic_laura - 2008-11-10 07:11:51

Is it common to get an infection AFTER you're healed??
It's very uncommon.

Does the pacemaker have to be replaced if you get an infection??
It depends on the infection but yes it does sometimes.

When the batteries run down do they have to remove everything or just change the batteries?
They just change the pacemaker box, they keep the same leads and plug a new box into it.

So what Elaine was saying is that open heart surgery has to happen if the leads can't be removed easily?? How often does that happen?
Leads can be removed without open heart surgery. They perform a laser lead extraction. If this is unsuccessful then they will perform open heart surgery to extract leads but this happens very rarely. Open heart surgery is most often successful.

I had a laser lead extraction as I had an infection on the part of my pacemaker lead which was in my heart. This is obviously dangerous as the infection could spread to the value. The lead was removed and I was on a long course of strong antibiotics. This was a year ago. I had a new pacemaker fitted and am now well with no infection.

For the above poster I'm not in the US.


To all above who answered me

by booknbrdcrzy - 2008-11-11 02:11:18

I thank each and every one of you who took the time to answer my questions. I feel a bit better though I am still having trouble with my arm.
All of you are wonderful.
God bless and thank you so much!
V.

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