lead extraction

My daughter is having a lead and battery replacement tues..just wondering if they will take the old leads out or leave them in after they put in the new ones or is that a different surgery? I have read different things and i am confused. Thanks!

7 Comments

extract

by Tracey_E - 2015-05-03 08:05:37

Extraction means removing the old ones. If they are not extracting, they cap off the old ones and add the new ones in the same vein. They should have said something if they were doing an extraction rather than just adding the new one, but I would definitely ask to clarify. If they want to extract, you may want a different surgeon to do it as it's a much more specialized surgery. Ideally extraction should be done by someone who does at least 100 per year. Good luck to your daughter!

Extracting

by MathTeacher - 2015-05-03 10:05:37

My doctor told me that, when the time comes, he rarely extracts the leads. He just puts new ones in. I agree with TraceyE. It's complicated, so make sure you have a very experienced doctor, if lead extraction is to be done.

Hi Macies mom....

by Tattoo Man - 2015-05-04 02:05:15


...............my very best wishes to you and Macie.....the others here have counselled you well....maybe some Members can recommend an experienced surgeon to do extractions..

Its for many an essential/inevitable procedure and is one that for Mum and Daughter an understandably worrying event.

At seven years of age Macie is well aware of the situation ....how much info does SHE want to know ?....how much more do YOU need ?...

PM Club will be here for you both for as long as you need info and support.

Tatoo Man

Extraction at age SEVEN?

by donr - 2015-05-04 06:05:25

Mom:
I refer you back to a comment by Golden_Snitch in an earlier thread for the BEST info on this situation. She is the local expert!

You said her PM is placed in the abdomen in a previous comment & that her leads are nearly 7 yrs old & therefore most likely epicardial. You also commented that she is "...so small..." She received the PM shortly after birth - at 4 days old, so that also tells me that they are most likely NOT in a vein.

You need to ask the surgeon if they will replace the leads. You are going to see someone on the surgical team today at Pre-op processing. They can answer your questions best - we are only guessing based upon our own experiences. Follow Snitch - she has BTDT.

The situation on replacement protocol is different for them, since they are not inside a vein & most likely more accessible. But that is a relative term - they still thread their way through the diaphragm & up past the lungs to get to the heart, so they may well be encased in scar tissue. Snitch commented at least twice that it seemed unusual that they have to split the sternum - is that perhaps to remove the old leads?

You need to ask today.

The best to Macie on Tuesday! And to her Mom & Dad.

Donr

Possibilities

by Pacemum - 2015-05-04 08:05:55

(a) Two Pacemakers

They could insert a new leads into the heart and move the pacemaker to the shoulder into the adult position. Once the new pacemaker is working they could turn the old pacemaker off and leave it in place.

(b) Attaching a second wire to the bottom of heart and having the pacemaker situated under the arm is another possibility.

I have never heard of any child have a lead removed which is sewn to the bottom of the heart they are merely sealed and left in place.

The abdominal pacemaker either could be left in place to be removed at a later date or removed at the same time.

My daughter was 7 when her pacemaker was moved to the adult position and the leads placed into the heart internally.

Update

by Pacemum - 2015-05-06 01:05:52

Thanks for the update and pleased that it went well. Hopefully she recover soon.

Thanks Everyone!!

by MaciesMomma - 2015-05-06 12:05:47

Surgery went great!! Shes in lots of pain but finally sleeping! He did just cap off the lead and replaced new lead and new pm and gave her the old one..surgery took about 45 min and she is experiencing lots of pain when breathing but is being given morphine. Thanks everyone!

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