Lead extraction

Has anyone ever had to have a lead extraction before? Looking for feedback. I unfortunately got a staph infection which caused bacteria to grow in my leads. Had to have a lead extraction done. I had no idea the procedure was so much more involved than putting in leads and/or changing out the PM.

3 Comments

How old are your leads?

by PacerRep - 2013-10-08 01:10:50

When were they implanted? This makes a HUGE difference in the procedure.

Hi Pacer Happy..................

by Tattoo Man - 2013-10-08 03:10:21


.........................Last year..2012..I developed a problem that amounted to an infected installation, along with a PM 'box that was trying to work its way out of my shoulder.

Now my PM was installed as an emergency procedure..along with all the flashing blue lights.

I never liked PM 1...

So, in January '13 I had the whole left shoulder kit removed,..the pocket rammed full of antibiotic and a whole new rig put in my right shoulder..this time with sutures, six inch nails and , I reckon, at least three wallplugs (Joke).

Operation 100% success, happy to say. I elected for a General Anaesthetic..this procedure does involve a bit of pushing and shoving so I chose not to 'be in' for the performance.

Don is right...techniques have come a long way...Do make sure that whoever does the procedure has a good track record for lead removal.

I understand that , in some cases a cardiac surgeon might be present..get the good guys in, I say.

PH..I was pretty apprehensive ( polite word for s**t scared ), but really, with the right people , you'll be just fine.

Others have said this before..Angry Sparrow is one.........get information and you get better control.

Do keep us informed with how things go..PMC has an awesome fund of knowledge..and you can be part of that fund.

Best wishes Tattoo Man

How long...

by donr - 2013-10-08 08:10:22

...is a piece of string? That's exactly the question you are asking!

We need a LOT more info to give an answer.

I read all your posts & comments & your profile. Not much help, we have to guess too much to give a definitive answer.

While awaiting details from you, I'll put on my deerstalking hat, grab my pipe & shag tobacco, sit down cross-legged on a pile of pillows, chase Dr. Watson out of the room & play Sherlock Holmes. I think this is a three pipe problem!

I deduce the following from the paucity of info you gave us:
1) First PM at age 14.
2) First post in 2006, claiming you had PM for 8 yrs at that point w/o a replacement.
3) No mention of a replacement at that point, so even though you had the first PM at 14, your condition & % pacing is not so high that you wear out batteries fast for an 8 yr life to that point.
4) Hmmmmm! 2006 was 7 yrs ago, ergo you are now about 29 yrs old.
5) You still are working on your ORIGINAL leads, else you would have written the instant post earlier when you had them replaced, based on your lack of knowledge about the procedure.
6) You now have an infection, which just does NOT happen out of the blue. The most likely source for a staph infection like this is surgery of some sort.
9) My guess is that most likely you had a new PM placed at about the 8 yr mark, or shortly thereafter, based on your description of how you felt in the 2006 post. This one I'm pretty confident about, even though you never wrote back about it to confirm or deny it.
10) Due to elapsed time - 15 yrs since original implant, & 7 yrs since possible first replacement, I'm guessing that you have recently had a second replacement.
11) No mention of any other surgery, so I have to go out on a limb , carrying a saw to cut the limb off behind me, & guess that the replacement surgery caused you to acquire the infection.
12) throw all that together & you have 15 yr old leads that need replacing.

OK: 15 yr old leads are thoroughly encapsulated in tissue & essentially part of the vein wall. This will require a procedure that I call the "Laser cutting roto-rooter" procedure.

They will place a tube w/ a ringed laser cutting head around the lead just where it enters the vein at the collarbone. The cutting head will be guided by the existing lead & cut away the sheath of tissue surrounding it. Simple in concept, but NOT simple in execution.

I believe Donb (the other Don, to whom I am the other Don) recently underwent the same procedure at age 81 or some such age, quite successfully.

You might send him a private Message for info. He will probably be in here today & reply, but why wait? He also had a wicked infection affecting leads & PM.

If neither Donb nor PacerRep gives you info, I'll be back tonight & give you more.

Don ()Officially known as Donr, a piker at age 77))

You know you're wired when...

Intel inside is your motto.

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