Pacemaker Infection

[Dodiad71]

Hello, my pacer seems to be trying to go through my skin; my skin is bruised, very sensitive etc, but not open. There's some swelling of the pocket. This pacemaker is my second of which I have had since Dec 99 and due to my complete heart block I am completely dependent on it. I'm 34 and recently was hospitalized for aggressive treatment of possible infection. While I was hospitalized for only 3 days I had numerous blood tests, cultures, scans etc. I have had no fever, the pocket is not warm, not a single test showed I had any infection. The pacer wasn't like this until after I had a recent bout with bronchitis for two months that left me with such a horrible cough that my ribcage was injured and I even bled from my colon from the intense pressure. (I was successfully treated with antibiotics). I question if it's even infected given all the normal findings. I feel like myself, no different, and yet while hospitalized I felt sicker so I went home to rest. The docs want me in the hospital on a temp pacer while they remove the entire old one, have me stay on a temp for possibly two more weeks with antibiotics, if infected, until I get a new system. I must ask:  1) They think I have an infection of my pacemaker system. Why would you expose another wire (temp pacer) to infection despite taking the old system out and while on antibiotic treatment? AND 2) Because I am dependent, couldn't they just take it out with some antibiotics and put in the new one at the same time? Why a second operation and additional stress on my body?

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Dodiad71]

I have NO evidence of infection, blood or otherwise. Adding a temp wire to beat my heart for me only makes sense given my dependency on my machine, but doesn't this defeat the purpose of extracting the hardware to begin with when you are only adding more hardware and another source of possible infection to prolong treatment?

AGAIN, the medical community has NOT been able to produce a single shred of evidence supporting infection in my case.

[Dodiad71]

I forgot to mention, the docs working on me also wanted to put in a chest tube. I personally believe with all my heart and soul without a doubt that my pacer is simple dislocated due to the strain on my chest from the previous cough. I feel very highly that all that needs to be done is revision with a new generator (battery low and generator on recall anyway). A new box, revision of the pocket, sewing me up and letting me get on with my life I feel is the best for me. Ironically, even my own doctor has his doubts about infection but his colleagues think highly that there is one.

[Cleveland Clinic]

dodiad,

thanks for the post.

1) If you are dependant on the pacemaker for a stable cardiac status then you would need the temporary wire while your other pacemaker was explanted. If you are concerned whether its infected an ID specialist may be of help.

2) If you have an infected piece of hardware in the body, its best to remove all sources of infection and have a few days to make sure that all the infection in the bloodstream is gone before putting in a new one.

good lcuk