Pace Maker Implantation
CARDIOLOGY SERVICES
What is Pacemaker implantation?
Pacemaker implantation is a small electrical device that will be surgically implanted in your chest. Your heart receives electrical pulses from the pacemaker in order to beat consistently and not too slowly.
If you struggle with a sluggish heartbeat, a pacemaker can greatly enhance your quality of life. For certain people, the device may even save their lives. The pacemaker implantation service is available at Port Charlotte Cardiology.
How does a pacemaker function?
A pacemaker is a tiny, 20–50g, smaller, medical device. It consists of one or more wires known as pacing leads that attach to your heart and a pulse generator with a battery and a small computer circuit.
Your heart receives electrical impulses from the pulse generator via the connections. The pacing rate refers to the frequency at which electrical impulses are transmitted.
Nearly all contemporary pacemakers operate on demand. The discharge rate can thus be adjusted to change in accordance with your body’s requirements. The pacemaker transmits signals steadily if it detects that your heart has skipped a beat or is beating too slowly.
When do you need a pacemaker?
The heart is essentially a muscular pump that responds to electrical signals. Several factors can cause these signals to be interrupted, which can result in a variety of potentially hazardous heart diseases, including:
- excessively slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
- a very rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- heart block (a condition in which your heart beats erratically as a result of improper electrical signal transmission)
- cardiac arrest (when the heart completely stops beating due to an issue with the electrical signals)
How to implant a pacemaker?
Implanting a pacemaker is a reasonably simple procedure. Since it’s typically done under local anesthesia, you’ll be conscious throughout.
On the left side of the chest, the generator is often positioned under the skin close to the collarbone. The generator is connected to a wire that travels from the heart through a blood artery. Most patients are able to leave the hospital the same day as surgery or the day after it, and the process typically lasts an hour.
Safety
The risk of problems is often quite low while having a pacemaker put in. Wireless signals can occasionally be used to reprogram the pacemaker to correct a problem. But if the pacemaker shifts out of place, more surgery might be required.
After a pacemaker operation
Soon the following surgery, you ought to be able to resume your regular physical activity. Strenuous activities should generally be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks following pacemaker implantation as a precaution. You should be able to participate in most activities and sports after this.
The pacemaker will be audible to you, but you will quickly become used to it. At first, it could feel a little heavy and uncomfortable when you lie in some positions.
Regular check-ups are required to ensure that your pacemaker is operating appropriately. The majority of pacemakers save records of your natural heartbeats. Your doctor can use this data to check the condition of your heart at your subsequent checkups.