1. < Heart & Blood Health
Profile picture for kathyhg

Blood clot following pacemaker insertion?

Posted by kathyhg @kathyhg, Dec 17, 2020

Hi, I am new to this forum but a regular on another forum which has been so helpful with information and so I thought I’d see if anyone can relate to my experience.

I got a pacemaker in December 2011 and a blood clot in my subclavien artery approximately 14 months later - which was manifested by a swollen left arm. At the time, my physician said that the blood clot originated in the artery because of the hardware and it was slow growing, which is why it took 14 months to cause the symptoms in my left arm. I was on warfarin for 6 months to dissolve the clot and have been on ASS 81 mg since then.

I wonder if anyone else has had this experience? I’ve recently seen a hematologist who was not familiar with this kind of situation so I’m second guessing myself. At the time that i got the blood clot, i recall reading that it isn’t uncommon for someone to get a blood clot after pacemaker insertion because of the hardware (foreign object in the artery). I’m wondering if I should see an electrophysiologist? A regular cardiologist?

I appreciate that no one can really give advice here but it would be helpful to know if this has happened to others and what was the treatment/care plan.

Thanks in advance,

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

Profile picture for Dana, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Apr 16, 2021

@kathyhg Hi, Kathy I don't have anything to add from.my post earlier but wanted to just say Hi. I had a pacemaker for about 10 years prior to my transplant and didn't have a clot for that reason but did have clots for the transplant and they only did aspirin, which I still am on, and the clots per an ultrasound did resolve about 6 months or so later.
Blessings
Dana

REPLY
Profile picture for kathyhg
kathyhg | @kathyhg | May 25 8:09am
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @kathyhg, great to see you in the Heart Health group too. According to this article..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Hi @kathyhg, great to see you in the Heart Health group too.

According to this article on pacemaker implantation (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pacemaker-implantation/risks/) "A blood clot can develop in one of the veins in the arm on the side of the body where the pacemaker was fitted. This may cause some swelling in the affected arm, but it usually settles in a few days and is rarely a serious problem. In some cases, you may be given anticoagulant medication, which stops the clot getting bigger."

It sounds like the blood clot has since been resolved. Are you concerned about ongoing issues and that is why you're seeking a second opinion from an electrophysiologist? Has this issue been resolved? What concerns do you continue to have?

Jump to this post

@colleenyoung I see my reply is 5 1/2 years late! My ongoing concern is mixed information I’m getting about whether I should stay on ASA 81mg (baby aspirin) or not.

The hematologist I saw (after stopping warfarin) told me that I should be on the ASA81mg forever because there was some damage in the elasticity of the subclavian vein but one electrophysiologist said no need for that. I will see another electrophysiologist in September.

One of the reasons that I am still stuck on this is that I have been screened for blood clots three times in the last 5 years, including when I had covid. The doctors have recommended screening because of the blood clot after I had the pacemaker. I keep wondering if this would not be an ongoing concern if I was still on ASA 81mg.

Thanks,

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.