Swollen Turbinate from lead obstruction or thrombosis

Good afternoon, 

I have a swollen Turbinate in my right nostril . I saw an ENT who diagnosed me with rhinitis. I asked him if it could have anything to do with my pacemaker and he said no, not event related. However the Turbinate vascular structure drains into the brachiocephalic vein which is right next to pacemaker lead insertion. I have a follow up appointment with my cardiologist.

 

Has anyone else had blood flow issues in your head due to thrombosis or lead blockage/ obstruction? I've also had headaches and weird feelings in neck and head ever since pacemaker placement.

Just looking for feedback and insight on other people's similar issues.

Thanks

Stephen 

2 Comments

A couple of contributors here have suffered SVC syndrome

by crustyg - 2021-06-21 16:31:56

Seems unlikely that your symptoms would have started in your nose if the real root cause was SVC syndrome.

More common is a clot in the subclavian vein which hasn't progressed to SVC syndrome.  Hopefully your pacing leads enter the venous system rather more laterally than the brachiocephalic - the expectation being that a greater rate of blood flow reduces the risk of clotting, but nothing in medicine is truly never or always.

If you're really concerned about this as a possibility, don't waste time here, head off to an ED and get an ultrasound / venogram (you probably won't have time to wait for an MRI...).

Best wishes.

blood clot issue

by Julros - 2021-06-21 21:55:01

I have sublclavian vein stenosis and even though I had daily headaches at the back of my head for 3 months, the vascular surgeon insisted it was not related to the stenosis. 

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