Failed lead

So sorry to hear your news

by Gemita - 2021-07-19 06:11:41

Dear Diamond Jules,

If you type in Lead or Leads top right side under "Q" it will bring up lots of members posts on problems with leads.  They do wear out like everything else in life and no one can predict how long they will last.   I see you have had your pacemaker for some 9 years.  In my opinion it could just be normal wear and tear rather than bad luck but I have only had my pacemaker for 3+ years, so a relative newcomer.

Many members have had lead changes over their lifetime.  I believe some have opted for complete removal of their old leads, whereas others have preferred to have their old lead capped and left in place and their new lead(s) fed into the same vein if there is adequate room to accommodate another lead, but I expect your doctors explained the procedure they would use.  I see you are in the UK.  I know it is important to find a centre with expertise in lead extraction to prevent undue trauma.  In the right hands it should be a safe procedure.  I wish you lots of luck

it happens

by Tracey_E - 2021-07-19 10:48:37

Leads don't last forever. I had one go bad at 10 years old but it was still working so it limped along and had it replaced when it was 15 years old. Since it was still working, I was able to wait until the battery needed replaced also. Insulation can rupture, scar tissue can build up to the point it doesn't work, many ways for them to fail. 

There are options. If there is room, they can simply cap off the bad one and add a new one. They can extract what is there and start with fresh everything. Third option would be run the new lead from the other side if there is no room in the current vein.  Some doctors prefer to extract and start fresh but I was hesitant to do that, thinking that if I can put off extraction long enough, my next set of leads will be my last and I won't have to extract twice in my lifetime. My doctor recommended extraction but when I told him my reasoning, he agreed with my logic so we did the venogram (iv with dye in the cath lab) to see if adding a new one was an option (it was).  That was more than 10 years ago and my other lead is still working well so so far, so good. 

failed lead

by tennisnskigal - 2021-07-29 16:10:50

My pacer was implanted 14 years ago and the lead to the venricle failed sometime after the first year - not sure why/how except I AM left handed and play a lot of tennis but my doc couldn't explain.  Because i didn't pace into that part of my heart, we left it there (I am a personal trainer and it would have meant months off work) until 3 weeks ago when it was time for a new battery - they actually replaced the whole pacemaker and capped the disfunciontal lead ( I didn't want to risk removal as there can be complications plus its a much longer surgery).  All went well