Pacemaker

Recommended For Pacemaker

Pacemaker surgery is usually suggested to patients with abnormal heart rhythm. There are at least three medical conditions which can be labelled as ‘abnormal heart rhythm’. These are:

• Brachycardia – patients with brachycardia have too low heart rhythm. Pacemaker procedure may help to keep their rhythm at stable, higher pace.

• Tachycardia – in tachycardia, patients have too quick heart rhythm. Pacemaker operation is useful in bringing their heart rhythm to the normal level.

• Arrhythmia – arrhythmia means irregular heartbeat – it lacks a pattern altogether or loses it from time to time as the result of strenuous physical activity or stress. New generations of pacemakers help to stabilise the abnormal heart rhythm only when it is necessary, leaving patients on their own when their heart rhythm is normal.

Not Recommended For Pacemaker

While pacemaker procedure is relatively safe, some patients may take other treatments into consideration. For example, patients with atrial fibrillation can decide for catheter ablation procedure instead of pacemaker surgery. During the visit in doctor’s office, you are free to ask about other irregular heartbeat treatments available.

Additionally, some older patients may not be able to undergo pacemaker placement. If it is the case, doctors will suggest other ways of dealing with their abnormal heart rhythm.

Number Of Trips Abroad

1

Discharge From Hospital

1 night

Duration Of Operation

1-2 hours

Minimum Stay

1 week

Overview

What is a pacemaker? A pacemaker is a medical device which helps to treat abnormal heart rhythm. Using pacemaker for heart problems is a standard procedure practiced for many years and undergoing constant developments in order to serve patients the best way possible.

As for today, living with a pacemaker is not hard and does not require even regular visits to doctor’s office. For this reason, more and more people decide for pacemaker procedure in order to fight their problems with arrhythmia, brachycardia, and tachycardia.

Pacemaker Types

Currently, there are several pacemaker types available. First of all, there are permanent pacemakers, placed as a response to a chronic abnormal heart rhythm, and temporary pacemakers, providing support for patients after medicine overdose or operations which can affect the heart rhythm in the short run. Apart from classical pacemaker device, there is also a so-called ICD pacemaker or, more correctly, ICD device. ICD pacemaker serves not only to keep heart rhythm at stable level but also to treat occasional severe arrhythmias.

Preparation

Preparation for pacemaker surgery consists mainly of a series of tests, aiming at gathering data about your heart rhythm and health. These usually include electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, Holter monitoring and stress test.

Additionally, you will be asked to produce a list of your medical conditions and medicines you take in order to exclude potentially damaging medicines around the time of your pacemaker operation. You will be asked to fast for the day of the pacemaker surgery and take a long shower using special soap.

How It Is Performed

The pacemaker procedure is conducted under local anaesthesia. Firstly, the wires are inserted with the help of a needle into one’s veins and then to heart. In the second phase of pacemaker surgery, doctors connect the wires with pacemaker device which is inserted under one’s skin or deeper into the abdomen. Then the incisions are closed and the pacemaker operation comes to an end.

Recovery

Pacemaker surgery recovery is rather easy to stand. Initially, patients may feel uneasy with pacemaker device but this feeling passes with time. Similarly, patients may feel pain during first days after pacemaker operation but it is manageable with painkillers. Usually, after the first night, they are free to go home. For the first 4-6 weeks of pacemaker surgery recovery, patients are dissuaded from engaging in strenuous physical activities. Sometimes they may be advised against spending a long time next to electrical devices.

Risks

While pacemaker procedure is thought to be a relatively safe one, still there are pacemaker risks worth taking into consideration. These include:

• Infections

• Neural damage

• Damage to veins

• Repositioning of wires or pacemaker which often necessitates another pacemaker procedure to adjust their positions.

• Lung collapse (very rare)

• Heart puncturation (very rare)

Additionally, on rare occasions patients may experience pacemaker problems – it may not work properly due to its own faulty or influence of other electrical devices. For this reason, patients are advised to not stay close and for long period of time next to strong electricity generators as well as body scanners.

Side Effects

Living with a pacemaker means that we need to accept some pacemaker side effects. First of all, to pacemaker side effects belongs feeling uneasy, being aware of the pacemaker. Additionally, security scanners will often beep as a reaction to metal parts of your pacemaker device. Finally, you need to stay away from devices generating strong magnetic and electric field in order to prevent the occurrence of any pacemaker problems.

Success Rates

Success rates for pacemaker procedure are extremely high at more than 99%. This shows that there is basically nothing to worry when it comes to pacemaker surgery and surgery-related pacemaker risks.

Faq

What Is a Pacemaker?

A pacemaker is a medical device which helps to stabilise abnormal heart rhythm. It is inserted under one’s skin and connected to the heart by wires, through which an electric signal is sent every time the heart rhythm becomes abnormal.

Is Living with a Pacemaker Hard?

No, living with a pacemaker is not as hard as one would think. New pacemaker types offer the possibility to intervene only if they detect an abnormal heart rhythm. Apart from some minor pacemaker side effects, life goes pretty much the same for people after pacemaker operation.

How Long Does the Pacemaker Battery Last?

It depends on the patient but a pacemaker battery’s lifespan may be from 5 to 15 years, with 6-9 thought to be a standard.