major???

i was wondering as when i had my pacemaker implanted my cardiologist told me he would give it 6months to decide if i need the pacemaker before removing it. how easy is it to remove the pacemaker?? as i know the leads attach themselves to the heart muscle so how easy or complicated is it to remove the pacemaker???? thanks chelle xxx

5 Comments

Maybe another?

by Pete K - 2008-04-17 01:04:08

I flat-lined for 17 secs in ER apparently due to a problem with the electrical signal and or low ATP levels. Cardiac doctor came to my ICU room that night (after midnight) and stated that he didn't know if I would ever use it but did I dare leave the hospital without the pacemaker? Have been wondering ever since if there is a big push on pacemaker sales. Of course now, reading says that I am using it 30 per cent of time. Wow, wonder why tests never showwed any need for it before. Stress test showwed that heart plumbing was fine but ekg showwed some eschemia (sp?)

P.S.

by Pete K - 2008-04-17 01:04:36

Also, when I asked the doctor about if it could be taken out later if it turned out that I didn't need it, he said that he takes out lots of them. (Silly me, now I can see, thanks to this site, that prob he was referring to taking them out to replace them or such.)

Difficulty Of Lead RemovalL

by SMITTY - 2008-04-17 10:04:39

Hello Chelle297,

It is my understanding that it takes longer than six months for lead to be imbedded in tissue whereas it may be difficult to remove. From what I have seen on this subject, leads that have been in place less than a year are relatively easy to remove. As for the leads being attached to the heart muscle, I think in your case the degree of difficulty would be depend more on the type lead tip used than time in place. Pictures I have seen of lead tips show some with tips like a corkscrew which are literally screwed into to the heat wall. The other tip picture showed a lead with barbs like those on a fish hook that were used to keep the lead tip in contact with the heart muscle. Since in six months I don’t think there would be an appreciable amount of calcification around either tip, nor do I think it would have become imbedded the vein wall. So, I would think the corkscrew tip could be unscrewed but a tool with a cutting device would be necessary to remove the tip with barbs.

Postings like yours is one of the main reasons I continue to come here as often as I can to see what else is new. Your statement "my cardiologist told me he would give it 6months to decide if I need the pacemaker before removing it" is a first for me.

Before going further, let me qualify what I'm about to say. Of course I don't know you, nor your doctor, and I realize there is no way you can tell us everything that went into the decision to implant a pacemaker on a trial basis. But I cannot imagine a doctor being so calloused about implanting a pacemaker and waiting six months to see if it is needed. I have heard of doctors prescribing medicine on a trial basis but implanting a pacemaker, never.

Be all that as it may, my thoughts are that your pacemaker leads at six months have a low probability of being difficult to remove.


Good luck,

Smitty

removal

by speedy - 2008-04-18 05:04:10

I had read your previous post, wondering if you actually needed it. I'm in the same boat I'm only 39- I got mine on Jan 2, 2008. After passing out 3x New Years Day. It was the only problem I had. I had open heart surgery when I was a kid and they figured it was scar tissue - so they threw in the p.m. I HATE IT!!!! I'm really thin, its too far over under my arm pit, it interfers with my daily life. The dr doesn't want to move it. When I was in he checked it and said I haven't used it yet - he never mentioned taking it out. Everyone says that it gets better with time. I sure hope it does for both of us!!!!
Take care & good luck
amy

Similar Experience

by Bionic Baby - 2008-04-21 12:04:49

Hi Chelle,

I had a similar experience as an infant. I had open heart surgery for a birth defect and the cardiologist put a pacemaker in "just in case." Mine was kept in for two years before they deemed it unnecessary and removed it. Having said that, part of the reason I had the pacer is that we lived in a very rural area and would have had to drive over three hours to get to a cardiologist. It was probably better safe than sorry, in my situation.

When I was 18, my pacer was changed from my abdomen to my chest. They removed the pacer from my abdomen but kept the leads in place, and 14 years later they are still there. Removing the pacemaker itself should be a simple procedure where you are given lots of happy juice in your IV and are awake for the procedure.

However, each cardiologist and each experience is different so my experience may be nothing like what happens in your situation. The best thing to do is ask LOTS of questions; if you're uncomfortable speaking with the doctor, nurses and pacemaker techs tend to be very approachable.

Good luck!

Lynn
:)

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