MICRA AV LEADLESS PM

Hey new member here! I'm 27 years of age and currently running on St Jude 2162 (DDDR) AV block 3rd degree. 

Had my 1st PM-lead at the age of 7. Second lead sometime after that. 
Had my 2nd lead broken within 6 months. 
Now running on 3rd lead. 

I'm looking into Micra AV and other options on the market, any information and experiences would be beneficial!

Personal experience living with PM - 
Had a first surgery in 2001, my second one in 2010. Doctors told me I couldn't train, they were right. I lifted weights, trained swimming for 3.5 years, rowing, and been a member of 10+ gyms - personally, wish I hadn't done so. 
The reason being, my first lead was placed so good into the heart I was able to benchpress 130+  and it could withstand all of that, until it couldn't anymore. 
10 years later I got a lead next to clavicle and I now can't even raise my arm. It breaks easily. That's why I had a surgery in 2019, 2020 and in 2021. 
Whoever is reading this, be thankful if you don't have a lead running next to your clavicle. 

Sick and tired of these leads, if anyone has an update on the battery life of Micra AV or wireless charging even on trials, please share with me

7 Comments

Be careful what you wish for

by crustyg - 2021-05-09 17:13:26

If you think failing pacing leads are an issue, wait until you have one or two leadless PMs in your RV and then they tell you that they need to be removed.

There are other options to placing pacing leads that don't result in failing leads.  Leads don't last for ever, but in general they last a *lot* longer than any current battery used in a PM (let's not get into the plutonium/Peltier effect PMs that last forever....).

In my opinion a leadless PM is completely inappropiate for a patient like you.  You probably have 60years of pacing ahead of you.  Even using the largest battery PMs presently available that's 4PMs to go.  Think of the trouble you'll be in when there are 3 or 5 leadless PMs (with tiny batteries) embedded in your RV and you find that they can't remove any of them.

Time to find a better EP-doc who understands that a) you're not a 70year old frail cardiac cripple, b) has the humility to accept that you need better lead placement and better support for your long lifetime ahead.  You might care to ask your current EP-doc if (s)he is offered any inducements to place leadless PMs...

34 years

by dwelch - 2021-05-09 23:10:02

I have a 34 year old lead and a 27 year old lead and a few year old lead.  Was extremly active, verious rough sports, hit the pacer very hard a couple of times.  Never pulled/broke/whatever. (the doc broke one yes on my first replacement, the other 34 year old lead is just hanging out with the others doing nothing)  It can be done, are with the same doc/surgeon?  Maybe it is time for a new surgeon or EP?  At least call around and tell them about they problems you have had with broken/pulled leads...

 

 

Response :

by MilanV - 2021-05-10 06:54:08

Hey thank you for the messages.

crustyg : Yeah I've read up a lot about leadless technology and the batteries seem to be the biggest and only issue here. There was a member stating he could run after placing BMP upper limit, I could do without cardio. 
That is why I was thinking about wireless charging which is being tested on the market right now, I believe a company in Cambridge does it, or ALPS Cairdac self-sustainable so was wondering if anyone has any information or contact to follow up. 

dwelch : Could you please share with me which routs/veins have they used in your case and you could remain active?

Cheers 

I think it's a lot worse than that

by crustyg - 2021-05-10 16:25:16

I have screenshots from the vendor's website relating to their leadless devices: "the use of deactivated Micra devices in situ and an activated Micra device, or an active transvenous pacemaker...has not been clinically tested".

I'm not sure that I would want to have these gadgets inside me under these circumstances.

Others here have pointed out the benefits of having a PM box change every 8-15years - better tech, better features, as well as the obvious new battery.  Me, I was delighted to have a box implanted that has a reasonable expectation of 15+years (at least so far).  It's big but not that noticeable.

But in any case I thought your primary concern was short lead life - at least in you.  This is not insuperable.

Life is all about choices, and this one is yours.

Wireless charging

by AgentX86 - 2021-05-11 14:11:34

This seems to me to be a a really bad idea all around. Secondary batteries have a miserable failure rate and short life.  I wouldn't trust my life to one.  As you say, batteries are the limiting factor.  Secondary batteries are not the solutuion.  I'd certainly not let them experiment on me with a known bad idea.

 

Response :

by MilanV - 2021-05-11 17:42:26

For now this seems to be the latest information about it on this forum. Alright, we'll watch and observe what comes out next on the market. 

Thanks for the replies folks. Best of luck in the future 

Pacing percent.

by PacedNRunning - 2021-05-12 04:17:24

Do you know how much your pacing or how much you use your current PM? I ask because if your active and need a good amount of pacing forget it! You'll be miserable as it doesn't track thr atrium well for active people that need a lot pacing. Hopefully your doctor knows this and will take that into consideration 

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Member Quotes

I am not planning on letting any of this shorten my life. I am planning on living a long happy battery operated life. You never know maybe it will keep me alive longer. I sure know one thing I would have been dead before starting school without it.