Lead extraction

Hi,
I had my current pacemaker changed 3yrs ago and was told that I may need the leads replacing at this point.

They were not changed but now need to be taken out and replaced. I have been told they are malfunctioning. The ventricular lead is over sensing at times and failing to capture.

Which is causing me significant symptoms, chest pain, fatigue, head aches and breathless are just some of my symptoms.

I am really scared about having this procedure done, as the leads are my original leads, 16yrs old. Im not sure what to expect. I am hoping it can be done without the need for a thoracotomy or median sternotomy. Which I have been told I may need.

Would be grateful to hear from anyone who has gone through this procedure.

Thanks

4 Comments

Thanks

by Sharron - 2013-11-18 03:11:00

Thanks for your reply.

I don't think the use of the laser Roto-Rooters, is used as much in uk from the research I've done about them. Nice guidelines that our health professionals use, state traditional methods still better than laser at present moment. Properly because it's still in infancy here.

I do know that my cardiologist won't be using the laser roto-rooter as he explained the procedure to me and described the tool he would use "it's like coring an apple". Were his exact words.

I'm hopeful that it can be done this way and they don't have to do one of the other procedures.

Thanks again
Sharron

You deserve an answer...

by donr - 2013-11-18 08:11:31

...So I'll start it. never had a lead removed before. There are a whole bunch of successful survivors of lead extractions here, they just seem to hide from the world. One of them is tattoo Man, who is like you a denizen of the UK.

I'm a nosey amateur - why are they telling you that they may need to do the serious procedures that I characterize as opening you up w/ an axe? Do they not have the laser Roto-Rooters in the UK that are concentric w/the lead & burn away the surrounding tissue as it tracks toward the heart? (To translate from US English, a Roto-Rooter is a device used to clean out sewer lines that tracks on the inside surface of the pipe & cuts away whatever is clogging it - like tree roots.)

Did they perhaps tell you that the two major procedures MIGHT be necessary in the advent that something serious happened during the Roto-Rooter procedure? Here in the US, the Roto-Rooter procedure is performed in an OR set to perform the two alternate procedures in the event of a major disaster. The Thoracic or cardiac surgeons are on immediate standby, since they may be needed in a real hurry.

Send a Pvt Msg to Tattoo Man - he'll answer.

Don

Coring an apple

by donr - 2013-11-19 08:11:38

Sharron, we core apples the same way in the USofA. We use a cylindrical cutter that follows the core all the way through the fruit till it drops out.

I THINK we used the mechanical corer here till about 10 yrs ago, when the laser device came into use. The laser roto-rootrer is now our standard approach for extraction.

Shoot Tattman a pvt msg - he'll tell you how they did him.

Our success rate for the Roto-Rooter is about 99%. I've read nothing about any members having any problems w/ the procedure. They have all come back a day or so after having it done & were quite pleased w/ the whole procedure. I'll do some research & see if I can find some references for you.

Don

I wish I could recall some others who have had it done

Thanks

by Sharron - 2013-11-21 04:11:15

Thanks

Your replies have reassured me a little.

Sharron

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