risks of ICD implant

Hello

Sorry in advance for my poor english

I have VT arrhythmia and my doc suggest me to do ICD implant..

Im really scare when it comes to surgery..i need info what happen during the surgery..does it hurt ? Risks ? I read from the other post that his PM implant for AV block didnt going well bcos he had cardiac arrest during the surgery..how could that happen ?

I need encouragement from anyone who have gone through

Thanks

9 Comments

risks

by Tracey_E - 2016-03-11 01:03:47

All risks- major and minor combined- are less than 1% of all implant surgeries. I've never heard of anyone having cardiac arrest from the implant, the whole point is to prevent it. If your doctor thinks you need an ICD, that means you are at risk for arrhythmia that can kill you. The ICD can stop it and save your life. The pro's far outweigh the con's.

There are many descriptions of the procedure and recovery here so I won't go into it beyond saying most of us find it easier than we expect.

I haven't heard that either

by Grateful Heart - 2016-03-11 02:03:21


Can you direct us to that post? Anything is possible but not typical.

Think of it this way, if someone went into cardiac arrest during this procedure, he was in the right place at the right time surrounded by cardiologists. It would have happened anyway. Sounds like he was pretty lucky.

You will have plenty of support from us and you will feel so much better.

Grateful Heart

risks

by lisapaulina1 - 2016-03-11 07:03:24

Thanks for the replies

Here is the message from someone who had cardiac arrest during the implant surgery
---------------------------------

Goodmorning! I saw you wrote to me earlier. I haven't been on this site for years until today, so sorry for not replying. The cardiac arrest I had during the first procedure when my first PM was put in was indeed a bit scary, but of course you only know after the fact, because I fainted because of it and was 'brought back" by heart massage and an atropine injection. It turned out that my low heartrate and back condition just couldn't cope with the surgery. I needed the Pacemaker which I didn't have yet. Therefor an external pacemaker with a lead through the groin had to be put in place before the surgery for the fixed pacemaker could be continued. I all sounds scary, but I have survided it well and all of this happended back in 2007. I am still alive and kicking. 

-----------------

Any thoughts?

Thanks

super rare

by Tracey_E - 2016-03-11 10:03:14

Of all the thousands of members we have here, that is the only one I've seen like that. I really doubt that was from the procedure itself, but from the underlying reason why he/she needed the pacer to begin with. Your problem is tachycardia anyway, not super low rates. You'll be fine!

I agree with Tracey

by Grateful Heart - 2016-03-11 11:03:54


My thoughts are still the same: He happened to be in the right place at the right time. Very lucky and as he states...he is still kicking....that was in 2007.

That's just not typical.

You will be fine.

Grateful Heart

Risks

by k.rize - 2016-03-12 03:03:29

I also had cardiac arrest during my implant technically. I say technically because my doctor told me before hand that they would be putting me into cardiac arrest to test the ICD. I'm new to this site and am still learning a lot so I don't know if they do that in all implants or just some. That being said the procedure was a breeze. The second I woke up from the meds I felt amazing. I had a new energy that I didn't know I had been missing. The pain wasn't bad at all. Just a bit of soreness. I just recommend asking as many questions as you need answered.

~mwelcome

Not the same mw

by Grateful Heart - 2016-03-12 11:03:38


The doctor put you into arrest in order to check the defibrillator. The member lisapaulina is referring to apparently had a cardiac arrest on the table....very rare.

Lisa, you can talk yourself into all kinds of scenarios. Many of us have had ICD's/ CRT-D implanted (myself included) and we are here to talk about it. The bottom line is if you need it......you need it. What is the alternative?

If you have other questions, just ask. BTW, your English is perfect.

Grateful Heart

Of course

by Grateful Heart - 2016-03-13 10:03:08


You can ask anything. Sometimes there are not many answers for a doctor reference.

You can search under the member list by countries, etc. and can private message someone to ask about doctors also.

Good luck.

Grateful Heart

specialist

by lisapaulina1 - 2016-03-13 12:03:42

Hello everyone

Thank God i found this forum..thank you so much for the replies n the support..im not alone and to know it ease my mind

I want to keep positive in mind and go through it bravely

Btw..is it allowed for me to ask question about recommended doctor specialist in Asia ( around Singapore..Malaysia or Indonesia ) ?

Thanks

Lisa

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