1. < Pacemaker & ICDs

Anyone have old leads to pacemaker removed and replaced?

Posted by ivysmom @ivysmom, Apr 17 12:44am

The leads from my pacemaker are 26 years old and my doc said they should be replaced as they may begin breaking down, which could cause serious problems. Of course, they will be replaced with new leads. The only concern is that one lead is close to an artery and nicking the artery is a risk. Does anyone have experience with having leads replaced?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pacemaker & ICDs Support Group.

jc76 | @jc76 | Apr 17 6:32am

@ivysmom
I had my original pacemaker/ICD put in in 2006. Within 3 months the wire leading to my LV to pace it came out playing tennis. The EP told me when he was trying to put that lead into LV vein could not put it where he wanted and it did not seed.

A surgeon did surgery to remove the lead (not attached to heart anymore) and put in a new lead directly on heart.

Then this lead after a decade started having high impediment and needed to be replaced. My EP did surgery for my new ICD/Pacemaker and put a new lead into my LV vein and told me the new wires made it possible to get into veins where in past they were too large to do so.

The lead directly on my heart that was surgically put there was left in my heart but the wire disconnected from my ICD/Pacemaker. So, I have 2 leads to AVs and 1 lead to LV and one lead just sitting there.

The old lead you have should become encapsulated. Talk to your EP about this. Taking a lead out that has been there a long time can be difficult. It is why taking out the original lead to my LV was easy as it was in there only a couple of months. The other lead that went directly on my heart came loose but was left and I was told body would encapsulate it.

Hope that help with me providing my experience.

REPLY
1 reply
ivysmom | @ivysmom | Apr 17 3:06pm
In reply to @jc76 "@ivysmom I had my original pacemaker/ICD put in in 2006. Within 3 months the wire leading..." + (show)
@jc76

@ivysmom
I had my original pacemaker/ICD put in in 2006. Within 3 months the wire leading to my LV to pace it came out playing tennis. The EP told me when he was trying to put that lead into LV vein could not put it where he wanted and it did not seed.

A surgeon did surgery to remove the lead (not attached to heart anymore) and put in a new lead directly on heart.

Then this lead after a decade started having high impediment and needed to be replaced. My EP did surgery for my new ICD/Pacemaker and put a new lead into my LV vein and told me the new wires made it possible to get into veins where in past they were too large to do so.

The lead directly on my heart that was surgically put there was left in my heart but the wire disconnected from my ICD/Pacemaker. So, I have 2 leads to AVs and 1 lead to LV and one lead just sitting there.

The old lead you have should become encapsulated. Talk to your EP about this. Taking a lead out that has been there a long time can be difficult. It is why taking out the original lead to my LV was easy as it was in there only a couple of months. The other lead that went directly on my heart came loose but was left and I was told body would encapsulate it.

Hope that help with me providing my experience.

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing. Yes, my leads are encapsulated and will need to be removed with what has been described as straw like with a cutting element inside. I will be getting more info tomorrow. It is complicated by the nearness, at one point, of a blood vessel. I have two attached leads Angie one the is just “there”, like a spare part.

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

REPLY
jc76 | @jc76 | Apr 17 4:55pm

@ivysmom
Sounds like you have some very advanced and experienced cardiologist and/or Electrophysiologist.

I got some really old leads too. What is happening to mine that are still connected are noise. Right now, I have 4 wires in my heart. 3 are attached and one sitting there shut off.

Back at the end of 2006 the lead going to my LV to pace heart came out. It was in a vein but came out. I had direct heart surgery by going inside my chest, deflating one of my lungs and then attaching a lead directly on my heart. That is the one that the wire got so bad they shut it off and EP put a new wire in the LV using the vein method using new lead wire technology and was able to get into the vein properly.

The new leads are much smaller and can be maneuvered much easier than the old wires. Can I ask which medical facility you are using? Sounds very advanced and a good one. I go to Mayo Jacksonville.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.