Lead Extraction

I saw a lot of posts about extraction, but they were older, and I wanted to check more recent info. I am due for my 2nd pacemaker soon and want to get the MRI friendly one, which means I would also have to do the lead extraction. I am kept awake often by pain that can't be diagnosed and treated properly without an MRI, and have been since I became battery operated. I don't do well with most medications, so even if I go through with this, that doesn't mean I can expect the pain to get better.

For those that have been through the extraction, would you say it is worth it? I am thinking that since I am young, it is better to do it now than 15 years from now, or when I am really ill and requiring it to survive. My mother died of cancer that required MRIs to help treat and diagnose.

Thoughts?

4 Comments

Extraction

by ElectricFrank - 2011-06-26 01:06:28

Extraction is definitely a risky procedure, but if done right it can be worth it if needed. The general feeling that I've seen on the forum is that you want to have the extraction done by a facility and surgeon who has a lot of experience doing them. They are up on the latest methods and have the experience to know how aggressive to be in pulling a lead out'

frank

lead extraction

by anette - 2011-06-26 11:06:54

I already asked once about lead extraction and get the following answear: doctors are doing lead extraction :
1) When lied is broken or disloged
2) the problem is lead INFECTION....but it was 2 years ago...
Anette.

Lead Extraction in April 2011

by iamsrg - 2011-06-27 12:06:29

I had this exact thing done in April and am having a helluva time finding anyone to do the MRI now that I have an MRI friendly PM. It still requires extensive programming of the MRI machine and minor programming of the PM, itself, before and after the MRI. Johns Hopkins in Baltimore is doing my MRI this week but they do MRIs on people with regular PMs, so you don't need to get the MRI friendly one or the lead extraction. You cannot be at the end of your battery life and get an MRI, however.

If I had it to do again I would go to Hopkins with a regular PM and have an MRI if needed. They are wonderful to deal with. You can read my past posts on my experience having my leads extracted (serious complications at a University Hospital with an experienced EP doc) I have the MRI friendly PM now and I still cannot get an MRI at any other hospital but Hopkins!!

I am returning to the PM clinic for the umpteenth time tomorrow for them to adjust the PM AGAIN to try and make it work well for me--for some reason the settings on this one do not feel the same as the old one and it is very difficult to make me feel the same as the old one. That could happen with any new model, but I'm not bonding yet with the MRI friendly one quite yet.

Thanks!

by deniseh - 2011-06-30 04:06:30

Thank you all for your comments and information. Any information is helpful in making this decision, particularly what happens afterward. I wasn't made aware that I would have trouble getting MRIs still after going through all that.

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.