Pacemaker

I had a biotronik closed loop system implanted for orthostatic hypotension.  I had electric shocks and ten out of ten chest pain.  Two ER visits, dr visit, multiple test and calls before they found out after two weeks that I had a punctured heart and lung.  After 2 more surgeries one resulting in a chest tube with one liter removed I am finally home.  Has anyone else experienced any of this.  If you do make sure you receive echocardiogram and lung cat scan.  Other tests did not pick up blood in epicardium or lung.  My surgeon and his nurse both apologized. 

4 Comments

Wow

by Pacer2019 - 2020-01-03 23:46:12

You have been through it ! Glad you are home and recovering .
What poked a hole in your heart and lung?

Wow

by AgentX86 - 2020-01-04 01:08:05

Unfortunately, that's one of the risks of any heart catheterization.  It's certainly not normal but not extremely rare anytime you're sticking things in the heart.  I've heard of it happening during ablations, as well. It's normally caught quicker than this, however.

Complication of pacemaker insertion

by Selwyn - 2020-01-04 07:43:09

The risk of collapsed lung and heart perforation are recognised complications of PM insertion. This should have been included on consent form you signed prior to the surgery. 

Here in the UK, after PM insertion,  you would always have a chest X-ray to exclude the above complications before you are allowed to leave the hospital after an overnight stay.  I remember walking down the corridor with my X-Ray form to get my chest  x-rayed as this was a quicker means of 'escape' than waiting for a porter and a wheel-chair!

You have my sympathy over the chest drain. I have certainly experienced one, and was shocked at the size of the thing that came out of my chest! I hope all is well now. Plenty of exercise to get the lungs re-expanded- I am now back to 110% lung function. Likewise, you should get back to normal. 

Pain

by Sharlyn - 2020-01-08 12:56:28

I had several xrays ct scans lab tests ekgs etc. no one did echocardiogram which finally showed wire had migrated thru ventricle thru epicardual space and then punctured my lung. Tried to get help for 2 weeks. That one test would have found it. Not much comfort that it is rare. No one ever mentioned it could puncture a hole in my heart but yes they did tell me about the lung. Very painful. 

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My pacemaker was installed in 1998 and I have not felt better. The mental part is the toughest.