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I recently underwent some heart surgery. My cardiologist called in a German expert and it was deemed that, as my left ventricle was malfunctioning (~20% efficiency) it needed some stimulation. In August, he tried unsuccessfully to put in an electrode, but there was a fibrotic build-up in the vena cava because of four pacemaker leads (two in service and two residual ones from an earlier pacemaker which was implanted on the other side). This surgery was aborted.
On the 21st, the same specialist put in epicardial lead. To do this, a 12 cm incision was made in my left side and two ribs were forced apart to expose the lung. This was pushed aside so that the heart was revealed. An incision was made in the pericardium and the electrode was sutured directly onto the heart muscle. The wire was then pushed up under the ribs and round the collar bone and then routed towards the new biventricular pacemaker which replaced the old one in the same pocket. In all four incisions were made, so my chest looks like one of a shrapnel wound victim.
I was informed that this surgery was not banal, taking 4+ h, even for a middle-aged patient, let alone an 81 y.o. one and the only reason it was done was that the medics considered that I still had a contribution to make to society; they would not have offered to do it to anyone showing any signs of degradation of any other major organ. Anyway, the fact that I'm writing this proves that I survived the butchery!
I don't feel any the better for it yet, but the instrumentation shows that the left ventricle is synchronised to the rest of the heart. The stitches come out tomorrow. I'm still in pain, under narcotics, and I'll probably be weaned off them, starting as from tomorrow. I was told it will take 1-2 months before being fully functional. The major problem is that the pain inhibits sleep; I'm in a zombie-like trance, dropping off for catnaps at any time!!! The doc said I should be able to drive after 5 days: not so! I drove a total of about 4 km yesterday, down to the village, accompanied by a friend who could take over, if necessary. Physically, no problem but I didn't feel safe and it tired me out.
Well, I'm afraid the devilish Brian will be staying on MURC for a wee time yet - sorry!
On the 21st, the same specialist put in epicardial lead. To do this, a 12 cm incision was made in my left side and two ribs were forced apart to expose the lung. This was pushed aside so that the heart was revealed. An incision was made in the pericardium and the electrode was sutured directly onto the heart muscle. The wire was then pushed up under the ribs and round the collar bone and then routed towards the new biventricular pacemaker which replaced the old one in the same pocket. In all four incisions were made, so my chest looks like one of a shrapnel wound victim.
I was informed that this surgery was not banal, taking 4+ h, even for a middle-aged patient, let alone an 81 y.o. one and the only reason it was done was that the medics considered that I still had a contribution to make to society; they would not have offered to do it to anyone showing any signs of degradation of any other major organ. Anyway, the fact that I'm writing this proves that I survived the butchery!
I don't feel any the better for it yet, but the instrumentation shows that the left ventricle is synchronised to the rest of the heart. The stitches come out tomorrow. I'm still in pain, under narcotics, and I'll probably be weaned off them, starting as from tomorrow. I was told it will take 1-2 months before being fully functional. The major problem is that the pain inhibits sleep; I'm in a zombie-like trance, dropping off for catnaps at any time!!! The doc said I should be able to drive after 5 days: not so! I drove a total of about 4 km yesterday, down to the village, accompanied by a friend who could take over, if necessary. Physically, no problem but I didn't feel safe and it tired me out.Well, I'm afraid the devilish Brian will be staying on MURC for a wee time yet - sorry!
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