My father is planning to have his old pacemaker replaced with either a biventricular model or one of the new defibrillating ones. We'd love for him to have the defibrillator, of course -- but the procedure for that one carries a bit more risk, since his old lead will have to be extracted, probably by laser, and that can damage the heart. If it does, open-heart surgery would be required to repair the damage.
If anyone has had this procedure (or performed it!), I'd love to know what you think. My father is 84 and diabetic, and has had two major cancer surgeries, plus a six-way heart bypass... but he's remarkably well for a man with that kind of history, and he wants to go ahead with it. Any thoughts?
Thank you for your time...
If anyone has had this procedure (or performed it!), I'd love to know what you think. My father is 84 and diabetic, and has had two major cancer surgeries, plus a six-way heart bypass... but he's remarkably well for a man with that kind of history, and he wants to go ahead with it. Any thoughts?
Thank you for your time...
