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How Pacemakers Work - Pacemakers. Traditional transvenous pacemakers Traditional pacemakers also called transvenous pacemakers have three main parts.
A pulse generator creates the electrical pulses. Wires also called leads are implanted inside the veins and carry the pulses to your heart. Electrodes sense your natural heartbeat. When your heartbeat is slower than normal, the electrodes deliver electrical impulses to your heart to make it beat normally. The image shows a cross-section of a chest and heart with a traditional pacemaker, which has wires leads. Figure A shows a double-lead pacemaker also called a double-chamber pacemaker in the upper chest.
Figure B shows an electrode using electrical signals to activate the heart muscle. Figure C shows a single lead pacemaker also called a single-chamber pacemaker in the upper chest. Wireless pacemakers not pictured are placed inside the right ventricle. Wireless pacemakers Wireless, or leadless, pacemakers are smaller than traditional types about the size of a large pill capsule.
Other types In another type of pacemaker, the electrodes are placed on the surface of your heart rather than inside your heart.
Who Needs a Pacemaker? Before Getting a Pacemaker - Pacemakers. You can bring along these and other questions you may have: What are the benefits and risks of a pacemaker? What other treatment options do I have? How will a pacemaker affect my life? What kind of pacemaker is best for me?
What happens during the procedure? How long will the pacemaker last? When should I stop eating or drinking before the procedure? Should I continue taking my regular medicines? When should I arrive at the hospital and where should I go? How long should I expect to stay at the hospital? How long will my recovery be? Will I be sore or not able to move? What medicines should I take after the procedure? How Is a Pacemaker Placed? Wired transvenous pacemakers Many traditional, and all temporary, pacemakers are transvenous pacemakers, meaning the wires and electrodes are threaded through your veins.
Epicardial pacemakers With epicardial pacemakers, the electrodes are attached to the surface of the heart rather than inside its chambers. They may also be used: When a vein is blocked by a blood clot or plaque When it would be difficult to insert the wires inside your heart chamber because of the structure of your heart or veins When they are needed by newborns or children, who are the most common users If you have a heart infection Wireless pacemakers Wireless pacemakers are a newer type of pacemaker.
After Getting a Pacemaker - Pacemakers. Recovery at the hospital If you have a permanent pacemaker, you may have to stay in the hospital overnight so your healthcare team can check your heartbeat and make sure your device is working well. Recovery at home Your doctor will give you instructions to follow as you heal at home, such as: What medicines to take When to return to normal activities.
Your doctor will probably ask you to avoid driving or heavy lifting for at least a week. Most people return to other daily activities within a few days of having surgery. How to prevent wires from moving. Your doctor may ask you to use caution or avoid heavy lifting, intense physical activity, or lifting your arms above your head.
These activities could shift the device or a wire out of place. When to make a follow-up appointment. Typically, the first appointment is one month after implant, with follow-up visits every 6 to 12 months. Possible complications from a pacemaker The procedure to place a pacemaker is generally safe. Complications may include: Allergic reaction to the device or medicines used during the procedure Blood clots that block blood flow. Your doctor may give you blood thinners to reduce this risk.
Device problems. The device may stimulate muscles other than the heart. Sometimes wires break, stop working, or get knocked out of place. Displaced wires can block a blood vessel or heart valve or poke through the heart muscle. Wireless pacemakers can also move out of place. Heart problems. Some people may develop arrhythmia, heart attack, or other heart problems after surgery or the device placement. Infection around the pacemaker wires or device. The infection may spread, causing problems in other parts of the body.
Call your doctor right away if you develop a fever in the days and weeks after the procedure. Pacemaker syndrome, which is when the pacemaker stimulates only one ventricle. Symptoms include fatigue extreme tiredness , difficulty breathing, and low blood pressure. Tissue scarring. Over time, tissue around the device can scar and stiffen, or tissue can grow around the wires or device. This can make it harder for your heart to work.
Trapped fluid or air around the lungs, known as pleural disorder or possible pneumothorax , or fluid that collects around the heart, called pericarditis.
Living With a Pacemaker - Pacemakers. Get your pacemaker checked You may need to visit your doctor several times a year to check your pacemaker. Avoid devices that interfere with pacemakers If you have a pacemaker, avoid close or prolonged contact with electrical devices or devices that have strong magnetic fields.
Cell phones. Use your speaker phone setting or hold the cell phone to the ear on the opposite side of your body. For example, if you have an ICD on the left side of your chest, hold your cell phone to your right ear. Avoid putting your cell phone in your shirt pocket. Electronic cigarettes Headphones. Most headphones have a magnet in them. Wear them as far away from your ICD as possible. Do not carry your headphones in a chest pocket.
Household appliances, such as microwave ovens, major appliances, electric blankets, and heating pads are usually safe if they are working properly. Heart pacemaker. Newer pacemakers weigh as little as 1 ounce 28 grams. Most pacemakers have 2 parts: The generator contains the battery and the information to control the heartbeat.
The leads are wires that connect the heart to the generator and carry the electrical messages to the heart. There are 2 kinds of pacemakers used only in medical emergencies. They are: Transcutaneous pacemakers Transvenous pacemakers They are not permanent pacemakers.
Why the Procedure is Performed. When your heart beats too slowly, your body and brain may not get enough oxygen. Symptoms may be Lightheadedness Tiredness Fainting spells Shortness of breath Some pacemakers can be used to stop a heart rate that is too fast tachycardia or that is irregular.
Watch this video about: Heartbeat. Possible complications of pacemaker surgery are: Abnormal heart rhythms Bleeding Punctured lung. This is rare. Infection Puncture of the heart, which can lead to bleeding around the heart.
Before the Procedure. The day before your surgery: Shower and shampoo well. You may be asked to wash your whole body below your neck with a special soap. On the day of the surgery: You may be asked not to drink or eat anything after midnight the night before your procedure. This includes chewing gum and breath mints. Rinse your mouth with water if it feels dry, but be careful not to swallow. Take the drugs you have been told to take with a small sip of water. Your provider will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.
After the Procedure. You may be advised not to: Lift anything heavier than 10 to 15 pounds 4. Raise your arm above your shoulder for several weeks.
Outlook Prognosis. Alternative Names. Not all pacemakers are permanent. Temporary pacemakers can control certain types of problems.
You may need a temporary pacemaker after a heart attack or heart surgery. You may also need one if a medication overdose temporarily slowed your heart. These tests can ensure that a pacemaker is the right choice for you.
Your doctor will give you complete instructions on how to prepare. Implanting a pacemaker typically takes one to two hours. Your surgeon will make a small incision near your shoulder. Then the surgeon will lead the wire through your vein to your heart. An X-ray machine will help guide your surgeon through the process. The ventricle is the lower chamber of the heart.
The other end of the wire attaches to a pulse generator. This contains the battery and electrical circuits. The atrium is the upper chamber of the heart.
Every medical procedure has some risks. Most risks associated with a pacemaker are from the surgical installation. They include:. You may go home that evening, or you could stay in the hospital overnight. Your doctor can reprogram the device as needed at follow-up appointments. Over the next month, you should avoid rigorous exercise and heavy lifting. You may also need to take over-the-counter medications for any discomfort. Ask your doctors what pain relievers are safest for you. It allows your doctor to receive information from your pacemaker without the need for an office visit.
Modern pacemakers are not as sensitive to electrical devices as the old ones, but certain devices could cause interference with your pacemaker. For example, you should avoid:.
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