Pacing Wires

[Ferrari10]

Hi Guys

I wonder if any of you have had issues with retained pacing wires after CABG? Today I have had sharp pain at the site where my pacing wires were cut flush to me skin just before discharge from the hospital. The pain gets worse when I bend. I get this pain from time to time but not always. My op was nearly 5 months ago. I can feel something under the skin around the area where it was cut which itself is close to the wound from one of the drains. There is no swelling as such. Reading up on the subject it seems removal of the wires is the normal process? I wonder why they didn’t remove them?

Cheers

[080311]

Hi, my pacing wires were removed, maybe you should speak to your GP or your cardiac nurse. If you have pain it needs to be checked out.

[Gail1967]

Mine too were removed completely so I would suggest a visit to GP

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Mine were removed before I left HDU. The nurses could not remove one so a surgeon had to come and do it - fair took my breath away! 😮

As suggested see your GP. Pain may indicate a minor infection that needs dealing with.

[road2ruin]

Also mine were completely removed not cut, that doesn't sound right! It could be scar tissue pain your are experiencing.

[Ferrari10 in reply to road2ruin]

Hi

Seems I am the odd one out. Had my CABG at Royal Brompton. They told me cutting wires was normal??

[Amkazar]

Had three of my four pacing wires removed after hear transplant three years ago. One was not removed, my surgeon came and took a look said to cut and leave it in place. He said if there was any pain they could remove it later with a minor operation. Didn't want to pull too hard in case it caused internal bleeding coming out. I can say I've not had a twinge from it since.

[Prada47]

I had a real good dose of Gas & Air whilst they removed mine it did hurt a little but not unbearable !!!

Regards

[whiststev in reply to Prada47]

Hi , I have 2 pacing wires left In confirmed by an X-ray which had prior to an MRI scan which I couldn’t have due them being left in , but I’ve had no problems with them..

[Prada47 in reply to whiststev]

Hello

Just wondering why the pacing wires would prevent an MRI they carry them out when you have the wires holding the Sternum together. I have a bit of metal embedded from a work accident. Chisel head was a mushroom and a bit flew off !!! they pick it up on an MRI but has never caused a problem.

Regards

[whiststev in reply to Prada47]

Hi, the staff said it couldn’t be preformed due to the wires made of different type of metal than the sternum wire which is ok for mri scanning.

[Prada47 in reply to whiststev]

I wasn't questioning you

I was wondering why, which you have explained thanks for that.

Regards

[whiststev in reply to Prada47]

Your welcome

[S11m]

I have not had CABG, but my atrial pacing lead was out of position when they wanted to use it - they said that removing it would have a 1 in 200 fatality risk.

When they fitted a new pacemaker they fitted and additional lead.