bi ventricular pacemaker

Hi

I am to have a new bi-ventricular pacemaker soon. I currently have a dual chamber and have developed pacemaker syndrome. As I have a right systemic ventricle this has caused me to be very symptomatic.

Due to my congenital heart defect there is a good chance they will have to implant an epicardial pacemaker. I know this is commonly carried out on children and during cardiac surgery but I'm finding it difficult to find information on adults who have had this procedure carried out.

Anyone know anything about this?

Vicki

3 Comments

thank you!

by vicki2806 - 2010-04-23 01:04:40

Thank you Inga,

This is exactly what I wanted to know. I hope you don't mind me asking you another couple of questions- do they have to deflate the lung on that side and did you need a chest drain?
I'm not particulary epecting it to be plain sailing- it's never quite that simple where I'm concerned.

Thanks again

Vicki

no problem

by golden_snitch - 2010-04-23 02:04:23

Hey Vicky,

no, they didn't need to deflate the lung nor did I have any chest tubes but I have seen a kid with the same surgery who had a chest tube just for the first night. I don't have any congenital heart disease so maybe things will be a little different for you. But the most important thing probably is: epicardial leads can be placed without needing to crack the whole chest open and without a cardiopulmonary bypass.

Please, feel free to ask more questions if you have any.
Best wishes
Inga

Epicardial leads surgery

by golden_snitch - 2010-04-23 12:04:39

Hi Vicky,

I have two epicardial leads, one for my left atrium and one for my left ventricle.

Surgery was done under general anaesthesia. For the epicardial leads they went in between the ribs below my left breast, the incision is about two inches ("right-lateral mini-thoracotomy"). They also had to open up the pacer pocket incision, not only because I needed a new pacer but also to be able to attach the new leads to the pacer unit. The leads were sewed to my left ventricle and left atrium, and the "tunneled" under the breast tissue up to the pacer unit.

I'm sorry to have to say that the pain after this kind of surgery is not at all comparable to a normal pacer surgery which is mostly because of the incision between the ribs, and also because you actually have two incisions and not just one. The first three weeks were pretty rough but I also had some minor complications: pleura effusion, subcutaeneous emphysema, and then after three weeks also had a pleurisy. So, it took me much longer to recover than from normal pacer surgery. But I mean, you have already been through open-heart surgery, and having epicardial leads placed is not as bad as that with regards to the pain.

Hope this helps a bit.

Best wishes
Inga

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