What are epicardial wires?
Epicardial wires are used with a temporary pacemaker. They are placed on your heart during surgery to help the heart beat, if needed. The wires come out through the skin and may be attached to a pacemaker or rolled up and taped to your body. The pacemaker wires are removed or sometimes cut and left inside your body after they are no longer needed. There are no issues with having an MRI if the wires are cut instead of removed.
How are the wires removed?
The epicardial wires may be gently pulled out or cut close to your skin. You will need to stay still while the wires are removed. You may feel a slight burning or pulling sensation during the removal. This should only last about 30 to 60 seconds.
Are there risks involved with wire removal?
Removal of epicardial pacemaker wires is generally a safe procedure. However, in rare cases (less than 1% of patients), wire removal causes bleeding around the heart, which results in cardiac tamponade.
What causes cardiac tamponade?
Cardiac tamponade is the build-up of too much fluid between the heart muscle and the pericardium. The pericardium is the sac that contains the heart. The extra fluid causes extra pressure on the heart, which keeps it from working properly, and your body does not get enough blood.
What can I do to prevent cardiac tamponade?
You will need to stay in bed for about 30 minutes after the epicardial wires are removed.
What are symptoms of cardiac tamponade?
It is very important to let your nurse or doctor know if you have any of these symptoms during the 24 hours after the wires are removed, even if you feel fine otherwise:
- Anxiety or restlessness.
- Feeling dizzy, confused/"foggy".
- Pressure in your chest or chest pain.
- Fast heart beat or racing heart (palpitations).
- Shortness of breath.
- Sweaty skin.
- Bleeding in the area where the wires were removed.
- Warmth or redness in the area where the wires were removed (let us know if this is a problem at any time; even after you go home).
What will my healthcare team do to make sure I'm okay?
Your nurse and doctor will closely keep track of your condition after the epicardial wires are removed. We will:
- Take your blood pressure and pulse (heart rate) often.
- Check for unusual bleeding from chest tubes and other changes that could be caused by cardiac tamponade.
- Watch for signs and symptoms of fluid build-up around the heart.
- Ask you if you have any symptoms that began or got worse after the wires were removed.
