Pacemaker
Although it weighs just about an ounce, a pacemaker contains a powerful battery, electronic circuits and computer memory that together generate electronic signals. The signals, or pacing pulses, are carried along thin, insulated wires, or leads, to the heart muscle. The signals cause the heart muscle to begin the contractions that cause a heartbeat.
- What Is a Pacemaker?
- Who Needs a Pacemaker?
- How Does a Pacemaker Work?
- What To Expect During / After Pacemaker Surgery ?
- How Will a Pacemaker Affect my Lifestyle?
- Key points
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What To Expect During Pacemaker Surgery ?
Placement of a pacemaker requires minor surgery, which is usually done in a hospital or special heart treatment laboratory. You will be given medicine right before the surgery that will help you relax and may make you fall nearly asleep. Your doctor will give you a local anesthetic so you won't feel anything in the area where he or she puts the pacemaker.
First, your doctor will place a needle in a large vein, usually near the shoulder opposite your dominant hand. The doctor will then use the needle to thread the pacemaker wires into a vein and to the correct location in your heart.
An x-ray "movie" of the wires as they pass through your vein and into your heart will help your doctor place the wires. Once the wires are in place, your doctor will make a small cut into the skin of your chest or abdomen. He or she will then slip the pacemaker generator/battery box through the cut, place it just under your skin, and connect it to the wires that lead to your heart.
Once the pacemaker is in place, your doctor will sew up the cut. The entire surgery takes a few hours.
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What To Expect After Pacemaker Surgery
Expect to stay in the hospital overnight so your heartbeat can be monitored and your doctor can make sure your pacemaker is working properly.
You probably will have to arrange for a ride to and from the hospital because your doctor may not want you to drive yourself.
For a few days to weeks after surgery, you may have pain, swelling, or tenderness in the area where your pacemaker was placed. The pain is usually mild and often relieved by over-the-counter medicines. Consult with your doctor before taking any pain medicines.
Your doctor also may ask you to avoid any vigorous activities and heavy lifting for about a month. Most people return to normal activities within a few days of having pacemaker surgery.