Mended Hearts Open Forum

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 ?

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 

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 ?

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. 

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 

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 ?

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. 

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 

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 ?

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 ?

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.    

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 ?

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.

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.    

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 ?

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 ?