Wondered about wires ever since...

[almost_hectic]

The day I was released from the hospital after surgery a nurse cam to my room with another nurse shadowing her as an observer. I was told they had to clip some wires before I could go home. They had a pair of snips and clipped something toward the top of my incision area? I remember the one nurse instructing the other to clip it as close as possible to my skin. What were these wires? I can't imagine they were sternum wires, that would have meant sharp ends right beneath my skin. There's nothing like that now?... I can't figure out what the wires they clipped could have been. I've since seen my X-ray and there's clearly wires on my sternum but... I'm still puzzled...

 

[Paleowoman]

I suspect they were pacing wires !

Pacing wires are there in case you get AF, or whatever, so they can connect to something immediately to get things going steady. Once you're okay they get rid of them.

 

[almost_hectic]

I suspect they were pacing wires !

Pacing wires are there in case you get AF, or whatever, so they can connect to something immediately to get things going steady. Once you're okay they get rid of them.

Would that mean when they clip or whatever they pull the wire out? Or is there still wire inside me? Just looked at my X-rays again and I can't see any wires. Although it's really difficult to see clearly on these X-rays. But I would think an actual wire would show up pretty clearly. You can see my sternal wires, my valve (barely) and my atrial appendage clip is the easiest thing to see.

 

[JulienDu]

Yeah, I had a wire cut too. I was asking to a nurse about my wires and she told me they would dissolve by themselves, they are made out of pig of something. Now, maybe I was completely ****** up in my head and I imagined all that, cause I asked that during ICU day, but I will sure question my surgeon about it.

 

[Paleowoman]

I had at least one pacing wire pulled out, but I think another was cut and so left in. Whatever, they are very fine wires so that's probably why you can't see any on x-ray Almost !

 

[rnff2]

They were pacing wires. My pacing wires (3 OHS) have always been pulled out and not clipped off. It feels very strange as they are being pulled out. I was told that if they don't pull easily they leave them in place and clip them so as not to damage the heart where they are attached. They should show on x-ray, but they are very fine thin wires and could be hard to see. I've never heard they dissolve but that would be pretty cool if they do.