Managing your cardiac device

It’s important your cardiac device is maintained and managed properly as there is a connection between your device and your ongoing health. Here are some quick tips for living with your heart device.

When Suzanne received a new pacemaker, an infected hair follicle caused an infection on the leads and for 10 years Suzanne suffered relapse after relapse on antibiotic therapy. Suzanne’s life changed for the better when she had her device extracted and finally got rid of the infection!

Alec didn’t feel anything at his pacemaker site except two small red dots which went away, but he did feel very unwell. Antibiotics only worked for a short while and then he would feel worse again. When CIED infection was identified his device was removed and now he’s playing golf!

Did you know more than 60,000 patients globally will develop an infection of their heart device this year [2]? And of those, most will be given multiple rounds of antibiotics instead of full system extraction, which is the only way to completely remove the infection [3].

Learn what signs and symptoms to look out for so you can help physicians identify the treatment you need, faster.

Each heart device patient and journey is different. Becoming a self-advocate and learning how to talk with your doctor will help you be an active part in the shared decision-making process. Some recommended topics to discuss with your doctor include:

When the decision is made that removal of your heart device is best for your health, a trained doctor will perform a lead extraction procedure.

Full system removal means that both the device and leads will be taken out. The procedure starts by making a small incision to access and remove the device. Your doctor will advance a device over your leads (if you have more than one) which will separate each lead from the surrounding tissue. This will continue until all leads are removed. A variety of methods and tools can be used depending on your specific situation and the process will be continued until all targeted leads are safely extracted. Ask for more information from your device doctor, they will be happy to further explain.

A lead extraction is generally a very safe procedure. Although results and risks vary from patient to patient, several large studies show clinical success rates around 98% [3] and the risk of major complications is less than 1.25% [3].