Pacing Issues

[John A.]

I had aortic valve and arch replacement surgery on August 3rd. On the 4th, my electrical system hadn't quite kicked in, so I remained on an external pacemaker. By the morning of the 6th, it looked like my system was back up and running on its own, so they disconnected the external pacemaker. I was scheduled to have the leads pulled this afternoon and was hoping to go home tomorrow (after 24 hours observation). Unfortunately, I became very light headed a couple of hours ago and my heart rate dropped to about 44 bpm. They plugged the external pacemaker back in and I was back on my own system within 5 minutes (albeit with the external pacemaker still hooked up as a backup). Now I am waiting for the electrocardio folks to let me know what they think is going on.

I know heart block is pretty common following this type of surgery, but has anyone had the experience in which it appeared to clear up for over 72 hours before reappearing? Just wondering whether this means that I will likely need an internal pacemaker and how long this is likely to delay my exit from the hospital.

Thank goodness this happened before they pulled my leads! Thanks for any feedback! Only have access to a mobile phone right now (which is my excuse for any typos!), so it is a bit difficult to do a search.

 

[Greg a]

John all I can say is OMG that you are able to post so well so soon post op.............I was in tach on the table and required the use of paddles threw anomolies on a regular basis for a year then implanted with an ICD and paced once a month later revived by it three months later and then three more months a repeat revival and nothing in the last sixteen months

Godspeed brother

 

[Julian]

I had aortic valve and arch replacement surgery on August 3rd. On the 4th, my electrical system hadn't quite kicked in, so I remained on an external pacemaker. By the morning of the 6th, it looked like my system was back up and running on its own, so they disconnected the external pacemaker. I was scheduled to have the leads pulled this afternoon and was hoping to go home tomorrow (after 24 hours observation). Unfortunately, I became very light headed a couple of hours ago and my heart rate dropped to about 44 bpm. They plugged the external pacemaker back in and I was back on my own system within 5 minutes (albeit with the external pacemaker still hooked up as a backup). Now I am waiting for the electrocardio folks to let me know what they think is going on.

I know heart block is pretty common following this type of surgery, but has anyone had the experience in which it appeared to clear up for over 72 hours before reappearing? Just wondering whether this means that I will likely need an internal pacemaker and how long this is likely to delay my exit from the hospital.

Thank goodness this happened before they pulled my leads! Thanks for any feedback! Only have access to a mobile phone right now (which is my excuse for any typos!), so it is a bit difficult to do a search.

I had surgery on July 27th, AVR mechanical with graft. My valve was really calcified and they waited till Wednesday 1 week after surgery to put in pacemaker. I was on external pacemaker for a week but used it only for the first day. They were hoping that my rhythm would come back on its own but it didn't, I would go into bout of tach heart rate about 120 to 150 for an hour or two. The rhythm at that high rate seemed normal but the resting rate of 65 to 90 was not normal.

In the end they put in a pacemaker, the only thing that remains now it to get my heart rate down to normal levels, I rest about 90bpm. I think they want me at around the 70's. I'm 28 years old.

Nobody wants a pacemaker, but if you have to its not that big of a deal. In the end your going to be fine. I'm glad you've made it through the surgery. God Bless you.

 

[John A.]

Thanks, Greg and Julian. As it turns out, the stuff I experienced last week was not related to the heart block of the following week, but was probably more related to my heart adjusting its rhythm for the new and improved valve. Thankfully, I haven't had any further issues and they pulled my leads on Wednesday and I was released on Thursday. I am now at home and feeling a little better each day!

 

[neil]

great news john

 

[camgough]

Great news. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks with the external pacemaker, then had a permanent one put in. A year after the surgery my rhythm has come back. Anything is possible.....