Pacemaker herniation?

This is my second pacemaker in 5 years (dual chamber, intramuscular) and I am about 2 months post op with new leads and new pm. # 2 was also placed intramuscular.

Yesterday while crawling into bed, left elbow bracing me as I turned off the light, the PM popped thru the muscle at the left side like a hernia! Freaked out, I shoved it back in. Obviously I am going to tell my doc, but has anyone experienced this ?

5 Comments

Moving Implant

by donb - 2014-10-31 07:10:47

Hi, I have also had that problem with my 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th pacemaker implants. As I'm a skinny person with no fat under my skin in both right & left chest site area. MY 4th replacement was put under muscle & sutured in my right chest & still managed to travel & finally eroded. My original Cardiologist told me recently that there are others with my build who experience this problem.
Hopefully now, in my old age with 1" of fat in my abdomen & having my 6th pacemaker under muscle in my groin area that it stays put. It is also the most comfortable & has been from day 1. This was done a year ago last July.
Hopefully you have a better chest area for future replacement.
When you see your Dr. I'm sure he'll be able reposition & get a good pouch which will build scar tissue around your pacemaker. Also, you are not alone on this one !!
Good Luck!! Questions, just post me!!
DonB

Moving implant

by Alamb2 - 2014-10-31 10:10:05

Thank you Donb for your response. I was wondering if you had to undergo additional surgery to tack the PM back into place or did they just have you restrict some of your activity till it became more of a problem? My first PM apparently also moved alot ( flipping and twisting itself into a series of tight knots, fracturing and stripping the wires bare). After just getting "cleared" from restricted activity (2 months this time), I was so looking forward to be off restriction so I build back to normal activity. Not looking forward to more surgery and more restrictions...

Site Problem

by donb - 2014-10-31 11:10:41

Hello Again, To answer your question all our Drs would not touch the site unless there were signs of erosion where you could actually see a small brown spot where a corner of the pacemaker would actually almost show. They want to avoid infection so they wait & see. As I'm an old person but also very active (like you) this becomes a problem. In my case the pacemaker was replaced to avoid infection. I know a number of members had their site opened & pacemaker repositioned & secured. The big issue has always been infection risk as most hospitals today have this problem. I've been infected a number of times with 2 major back surgeries. My 5th pacemaker was the worst as the site, leads & heart showed infection which called for 7 weeks of antibiotic IV treatment which was July 2013. As I had really good care I was quite fortunate.
Hopefully you'll luck out as it's a fresh implant & they can move it so scar tissue will build around it. Drop me a line anytime with questions ??
DonB

Cirque de PM

by Alamb2 - 2014-11-02 07:11:19

Called my doc. He wants to do an interrogation next week and also check if we can duplicate the 'herniation'. Ugh. Not looking forward to this visit.

Hi Alamb2.......................

by Tattoo Man - 2014-11-02 10:11:13


..................I had a 'migrating' PM...with the attendant infection....a RH replacement was sutured in to prevent any chance of escape. The new one doesn't 'bounce' when I run.

Get it checked out asap...better to be safe than sorry.

Best wishes

Tattoo Man

You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

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