Sugery

dying

by jessie - 2017-10-11 01:49:49

it would be very unlikely but possible i suppose. i wouldnt worry about it tho

Less than ...

by donr - 2017-10-11 02:32:15

...1/2 of 1 percent for PM procedures.  Probably even smaller for replacements - they only have to replace the PM & its case - no grubbng around inside the heart.  The anesthesia is probably a greater threat to safety than the surgery.

Donr

ANESTHESIA

by Bob J. - 2017-10-11 09:43:42

My understanding is that the Anesthesia is the culprit in any kind of procedure.  I am a new first time PM recipient (9/24/17) of a Medtronic "SureScan" A2DR01.  Mine was implanted using ONLY local anesthetics.  NO ANESTHESIA.  It was no more painful than having a tooth filled at the dentist.  I could feel the Dr manipulating the PM into place.  A kind of dull pushing sensation.  The procedure lasted less than one hour and I was able to walk into my hospital bed imediately aftwerwards, and went home that same night.  My chest was sore around the implant area for the next few days, but nothing a few Tylenol couldn't handle.  Anesthesia?  Why take even a 1/2 of 1 percent risk?

Odds

by doublehorn48 - 2017-10-11 10:47:33

If you are concerned go to the best facility you can afford.  With insurance they are all about the same.  You're fairly close to The Cleveland Clinic, they are #1 for cardiac procedures.  Replacement is a simple procedure but the odds are drastically reduced at the great facilities.

Odds

by The real Patch - 2017-10-11 12:58:28

The odds of you dying go way down to almost zero if you refuse to pay the doctor before surgery...

You are really getting carried away with paranoia about a pretty minor procedure. 

A very simple procedure

by Artist - 2017-10-11 16:15:51

Normally replacements are done under local anesthetic.  The pocket where your PM is located is opened up, the leads unscrewed and the new PM is inserted and the leads are screwed back in. Very simple.  The procedure would be more involved if they wanted to create a new pocket for some reason, but that is still minor surgery normally done under local anesthetic.  Just be careful to follow the instructions given for the healing period that help to avoid infections etc. Your leads have already anchored to your heart wall so the instructions to not raise your arm above shoulder level for 2 weeks should not even apply unless you are instructed otherwise.

Taser

by jblue97 - 2017-10-11 20:37:39

What will happened if I'm shocked or tased? Will or can it kill me?

overthinking

by Tracey_E - 2017-10-12 09:24:24

If you get shocked or tased it will hurt, just like anyone else. It won't affect the pacer.

All complications for new pacemaker implants are less than 3%. Fatalities are infinitesemal percentage of those. Replacements are lower risk than initial placement so much smaller than that.  You *could* die walking across the street or sitting on your sofa. But you probably won't.  Stress will shorten your life. Rather than overthink random things that will never happen, concentrate on the things you can control. Eating well, being active, minimizing stress in your life will all help you live longer. Every doctor I have ever had- and I was diagnosed in 1970 so there have been a few- has said that this WILL NOT SHORTEN MY EXPECTED LIFESPAN. 

replacement

by Tracey_E - 2017-10-13 09:33:14

Are you worried about the heart stopping when they physically disconnect the old one to replace it with a new one? If so, that only takes seconds and it's nothing to worry about. They have the new one all programmed and ready to go so the time that it's disconnected is minimal. If our underlying rate is too low, they can do a temporary pacemaker for the duration of the surgery. My rate was as low as 20 before replacement (I've had 5) but they still didn't bother with a temporary pacer, just an external one. Temporary ones are run through the groin, external are giant sticky pads. Some doctors use temporary but most use external. Whichever they use, they are prepared and your heart will not be allowed to stop.