Mended Hearts Open Forum

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  • 1.  Pacing wires after CABG

    Posted 03-28-2024 09:33

    Just had quadruple bypass about 4 weeks ago. My pacing wires were not removed they were just cut flush with the skin. Should I be worried that they were left in ? Has anyone had same where they were left in ?



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    Arturo Lopez
    IT
    Rancho Cucamonga CA
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  • 2.  RE: Pacing wires after CABG

    Posted 03-28-2024 12:57

    Arturo,

    Congratulations on a successful procedure. I'm not certain what you mean by "pacing wires".  After any open heart surgery, the surgeon uses a number of synthetic sutures to hold together the edges of the incision.  These are usually dissolvable sutures that disappear within a month or two. Sometimes, I have found a few ends remaining, that poke through the skin. These should not pose a problem and be washed away when in the shower with a wash cloth. If the "pacing wires" are something other than synthetic sutures, you should see immediately see your cardiologist.

    All the best,

    Vic 



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    Victor Fabry, Founder
    Healed Hearts of New Jersey
    Short Hills, New Jersey
    fvfabry@gmail.com
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  • 3.  RE: Pacing wires after CABG

    Posted 03-28-2024 13:46

    It's a temporary pacemaker where the wires are connected to your heart. Some surgeons have it removed before your discharge and others just leave the wires attached. 



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    Arturo Lopez
    IT
    Rancho Cucamonga CA
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  • 4.  RE: Pacing wires after CABG

    Posted 03-28-2024 17:17

    My first OHS I had a temporary pacemaker due to complete heart block. The same day my pacemaker was implanted and setup, my temporary pacemaker was removed wires and all.  

    When I had my 2nd OHS, I didn't need a temporary pacemaker since I already have one. They had to turn my pacemaker off while I was in surgery.  Once they connected me to the ecmo they turned the pacemaker off, and stopped my heart.  Once they restarted my heart, the turned the pacemaker on and took me off the ecmo.



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    Brian Keller
    Reading, Pennsylvania
    OHS, CABG,CHF,PACEMAKER Survior
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  • 5.  RE: Pacing wires after CABG

    Posted 04-17-2024 17:01

    I'd ask your cardiologist or heart surgeon at your follow up appointment about if they are planning on removing them, or just letting them in.

    Brian 



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    Brian Keller
    Reading, Pennsylvania
    OHS, CABG,CHF,PACEMAKER Survior
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  • 6.  RE: Pacing wires after CABG

    Posted 04-29-2024 14:00

    Hi Arturo, 

    I had a double bypass a little over 2 years ago.  My understanding of what the hospital staff told me is they abandoned the pacemaker wires that were implanted in my heart "just in case" a pacemaker might be needed during and/or immediately after surgery.  Pace maker was never actually used.  Towards the end of my recovery time in icu a nurse clipped the pacemaker wires near my skin.  I was surprised my medical team didn't remove the abandoned wires from my heart.   I have been told by MRI staff that because pacemaker wires remain in my heart and have been clipped at skin level and abandoned, unattached to a pacemaker, I can NEVER have an MRI.  
     Around the same time as my surgery, my friend had a different kind of heart surgery.  She also had pacemaker wires implanted, but her medical team removed her pacemaker wires.   She said they Impressed on her how important it was to lie very still for a period of time (1/2 hour???) after her pacemaker wires were removed from her heart.    



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    Mary Melbourne
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  • 7.  RE: Pacing wires after CABG

    Posted 04-29-2024 15:23

    You raise the question that bypass patients should discuss the need for pacemaker devices post-surgery.

    It appears that different medical centers have different policies about leaving pacing wires in the patient.

    By the way, I had a lead-less pacemaker made by Abbott Labs installed in June 2023 with no problems.



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    Victor Fabry, Founder
    Healed Hearts of New Jersey
    Short Hills, New Jersey
    fvfabry@gmail.com
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  • 8.  RE: Pacing wires after CABG

    Posted 04-29-2024 16:06

    Hi Victor!

     I was actually quite out of it after my double bypass.  I was surprised by much of the medical devices attached to me as I regained consciousness.   I was medicated enough to not mind any of it so much… very grateful to be alive!  

    I believe they explained the pacemaker wires were placed as a matter of routine process, that sometimes in the process of my type of open heart surgery patients may temporarily need the support of a pacemaker.   In my situation, my heart kept proper rhythm and pacemaker was never used.  



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    Mary
    FL
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  • 9.  RE: Pacing wires after CABG

    Posted 04-29-2024 14:00

    Hi Arturo!  
    I had a double bypass a bit more than 2 years ago.  Pacemaker wires were implanted in my heart, but were never used.   Before I left ICU a nurse clipped the wires near my skin.  I have been told by MRI staff I can NEVER have an MRI because those wires are still attached to my heart and unattached "loose" at the other end.   



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    Mary
    FL
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  • 10.  RE: Pacing wires after CABG

    Posted 05-21-2024 14:14

    Mine were removed however my sister, who was a cardiac step-down nurse says that they are sometimes just clipped and left in.  The body absorbs them safely.  If you are concerned still, a quick call to the doc should put your mind at ease 



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    Karin Ramsay
    N/A - done by owner
    L'ile-Perrot QC
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