Lead Removal nightmare

• by zonka1965
• 2014-12-17 08:12:51
• Batteries & Leads
• 1692 views
• 2 comments

My history is that I had my first pacemaker implanted in 1991. In 1994 I had a lead break and it was decided to leave the old wires and push through new wires if they would fit. They did fit and the wires were pushed through leaving the old wires. In 2000 I had a battery change and in 2006 I became sick and was found to have an infection and had endocarditis on my heart valves so all of the first set of wires had to be removed along with the second set to give me a chance at recovering from the infection. My surgery was at U of C Hospitals in Chicago. I survived that surgery and had another pacemaker implanted in 2006 and in 2013 I had a battery change and in 2014 one of my leads broke. I went back to U of C Hospitals to have the wires removed and replaced but during surgery the doctor found that the lead had dislodged some time ago and had become rough from the break and somehow attached itself to my trachea and had calcified to my trachea. During an eight hour surgery my doctor tried to remove the lead from my trachea but became worried he woud damage my trachea and cause a fistula so he had to abandon the lead. My Doctor told me he has never heard of this happening but he did think about the possibility that it could. At this point a new pacemaker was implanted and the doctors are not sure what I can expect or if there will be any problems from this abandoned lead that is attached to my trachea.

If anyone else has heard of this happening. I would appreciate any information. Thank you.