Lead detached

Has anyone had a lead detach from the heart after having it in place for several years? I had my original Boston Scientific CRT-D put in 8 years ago and everything went fine until this summer when I started an exercise program where I was going to a gym and lifting light weights. My doctor says this is highly unusual to have a lead move after this long, and now there is so much scar tissue around the leads that they can't get another lead in without doing a laser procedure to dissolve the scar tissue. I am seeing a cardiac surgeon on Wednesday to discuss the procedure and I am very concerned about this surgery because I understand it can be dangerous. Any comments would be appreciated.

2 Comments

Its all dangerous...?

by Xxmikexx - 2014-11-02 01:11:33

First, I am a complete noob here. Only had a pm for two days...second...I didn't think the leads could be pulled out after the scar? Did you have any slack in the lead on implant? I triple checked I had plenty of slack and asked to see the X-ray before I left to verify I had lots of slack so I can exercise. I'm 45 and way to young to stop moving...anyway, please update as you learn more about the laser procedure...I'm sure it can't be any more dangerous than the leads going into the heart...? A hole is a hole no matter what makes it, right? I'll bet they have procedures in place to mitigate this issue. Please let us know as you learn! Wishing you well.

Lead detached

by CynthiaGrear - 2014-11-02 10:11:46

I am only 46, very active, and I have had a pm for 8 years. I have had one unit change but no changes in leads. I do not know if I had slack in the lead. I was told that after 6-8 weeks the scar tissue would keep the lead in place. When the doctor saw the X-ray with the lead pulled out of my left ventricle, she could not believe her eyes. She said she had never seen that with any of her patients. By the way, she was not the doctor who put in the leads. Now that you mentioned slack in the lead, I'm going to ask before they open me up again. I will be seeing a cardio-thoracic surgeon, a specialist in laser removals, on Wednesday to prepare for the surgery and I will ask. I will update as I learn more. Thanks.

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