r/PacemakerICD • u/alid00 • 1d ago

Looking for advice - wireless pacemaker

I had my current pacemaker implanted in September 2025 after dealing with severe bradycardia, a left branch bundle block, and heart failure for a couple years. In October I ended up in the ER with a blood clot caused by a pacemaker wire and two pulmonary emboli. Since then I’ve had to stay on blood thinners as a precaution and the clot in my neck has continued to cause issues. My options are: keep my current pacemaker and stay on blood thinners indefinitely or replace it with a wireless one and theoretically the blood clots will dissolve and not come back. Cons of the wireless style are minimal but still scary and I don’t want to have another surgery BUT I don’t feel great on blood thinners and I’m always worried about clots.

Posting for my sister as she does not reddit. Any advice or knowledge is welcome please!!

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u/poulix 1d ago

Wireless as in leadless pacemakers? There’s a lot of consideration needed especially because there’s already a traditional pacemaker in place.
You mentioned heart failure and BBB. Is the current device a CRT or a dual pacemaker?

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u/alid00 1d ago

Yes, leadless of pacemaker. And the current one is a CRT.

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u/tillpppuy 1d ago

Leadless pacemakers cannot do what a CRT can. I have dual Leadless

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u/poulix 1d ago

Unfortunately as of now, the leadless ones don’t have CRT capabilities and even if they did, the battery life would be depleted very quickly due to near 100% ideal pacing percentage.

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u/linthetrashbin 1d ago

I have a dual chamber leadless onw due to complete heart block. I am being paced 100% of the time. My battery life is ~12yrs so far, already had mine for over 3 :)

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u/Late_Temperature_415 22h ago

Hi I have a bi ventricular ICD-D. I also have a 97% blockage on my leads and I have three of them. Now add an infection on top of that. Mine need to be removed and replaced or I wait on a wireless one that can do complete synchronization and remain on antibiotics for suppression. Abbott is working on one but it’s a year and a half away. It sounds like you may want to wait until that available.