Before your doctor decides if you need a pacemaker, you'll have several tests done to find the cause of your irregular heartbeat. Tests done before you get a pacemaker could include:. You'll likely be awake during the surgery to implant the pacemaker, which typically takes a few hours. A specialist will insert an IV into your forearm or hand and give you a medication called a sedative to help you relax. Your chest is cleaned with special soap. Most pacemaker implantations are done using local anesthesia to numb the area of the incisions.
However, the amount of sedation needed for the procedure depends on your specific health conditions. You may be fully awake or lightly sedated, or you may be given general anesthesia fully asleep. One or more wires are inserted into a major vein under or near your collarbone and guided to your heart using X-ray images. One end of each wire is secured at the appropriate position in your heart, while the other end is attached to the pulse generator, which is usually implanted under the skin beneath your collarbone.
A leadless pacemaker is smaller and typically requires a less invasive surgery to implant the device. The pulse generator and other pacemaker parts are contained in a single capsule. The doctor inserts a flexible sheath catheter in a vein in the groin and then guides the single component pacemaker through the catheter to the proper position in the heart. You'll likely stay in the hospital for a day after having a pacemaker implanted.
Your pacemaker will be programmed to fit your heart rhythm needs. You'll need to arrange to have someone drive you home from the hospital. Your doctor might recommend that you avoid vigorous exercise or heavy lifting for about a month. Avoid putting pressure on the area where the pacemaker was implanted.
If you have pain in that area, ask your doctor about taking medicines available without a prescription, such as acetaminophen Tylenol, others or ibuprofen Advil, Motrin IB, others. It's unlikely that your pacemaker would stop working properly because of electrical interference. Still, you'll need to take a few precautions:. Security systems. Passing through an airport metal detector won't interfere with your pacemaker, although the metal in the pacemaker could sound the alarm.
But avoid lingering near or leaning against a metal-detection system. Devices that are unlikely to interfere with your pacemaker include microwave ovens, televisions and remote controls, radios, toasters, electric blankets, electric shavers, and electric drills. Having a pacemaker should improve symptoms caused by a slow heartbeat such as fatigue, lightheadedness and fainting.
The nature of your occupation, your overall health status, and your progress will determine how soon you may return to work. Increased pain, redness, swelling, or bleeding or other drainage from the insertion site. Your doctor may give you additional or alternate instructions after the procedure, depending on your particular situation.
The following precautions should always be considered. Discuss the following in detail with your doctor, or call the company that made your device:. Always carry an ID card that states you have a pacemaker. In addition, you may want to wear a medical identification bracelet indicating that you have a pacemaker.
Let screeners know you have a pacemaker before going through airport security detectors. In general airport detectors are safe for pacemakers, but the small amount of metal in the pacemaker and leads may set off the alarm. If you are selected for additional screening by hand-held detector devices, politely remind the screeners that the detector wand should not be held over your pacemaker for longer than a few seconds, as these devices contain magnets and thus may affect the function or programming of your pacemaker.
You may not have a magnetic resonance imaging MRI procedure unless you have a specially designed pacemaker. You should also avoid large magnetic fields such as power generation sites and industrial sites such as automobile junkyards that use large magnets.
Turn off large motors, such as cars or boats, when working close to them as they may create a magnetic field. Avoid high-voltage or radar machinery, such as radio or television transmitters, electric arc welders, high-tension wires, radar installations, or smelting furnaces.
If you are having a surgical procedure performed, inform your surgeon that you have a pacemaker well before the operation. Also ask your cardiologist's advice on whether anything special should be done prior to and during the surgery, as the electrocautery device that controls bleeding may interfere with the pacemaker. Sometimes the pacemaker's programming will be temporarily changed using a magnet during the surgery to minimize the possibility of interference from the electrocautery.
When involved in a physical, recreational, or sporting activity, protect yourself from trauma to the pacemaker. A blow to the chest near the pacemaker can affect its functioning. If you are hit in that area, you may want to see your doctor. Cell phones in the U. Avoid carrying a cell phone in your breast pocket over your pacemaker.
Always consult your doctor when you feel ill after an activity, or when you have questions about beginning a new activity. Always consult your doctor if you have any questions concerning the use of certain equipment near your pacemaker. Health Home Treatments, Tests and Therapies. The heart's electrical system The heart is basically a pump made up of muscle tissue that is stimulated by electrical currents, which normally follow a specific circuit within the heart.
What is a pacemaker? Reasons for the procedure A pacemaker may be inserted in order to stimulate a faster heart rate when the heart is beating too slowly, and causing problems that cannot otherwise be corrected.
Some examples of heart rate and rhythm problems for which a pacemaker might be inserted include: Bradycardia. This occurs when the sinus node causes the heart to beat too slowly. Tachy-brady syndrome.
This is characterized by alternating fast and slow heartbeats. There may be other reasons for your doctor to recommend a pacemaker insertion. Risks of the procedure Possible risks of pacemaker include, but are not limited to, the following: Bleeding from the incision or catheter insertion site Damage to the vessel at the catheter insertion site Infection of the incision or catheter site Pneumothorax.
Patients who are allergic to or sensitive to medications or latex should notify their doctor. Before the procedure Your doctor will explain the procedure to you and offer you the opportunity to ask any questions that you might have about the procedure: You will be asked to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the test.
If you are pregnant or suspect that you are pregnant, you should notify your doctor. Based on your medical condition, your doctor may request other specific preparation. During the procedure A pacemaker may be performed on an outpatient basis or as part of your stay in a hospital. Generally, a pacemaker insertion follows this process: You will be asked to remove any jewelry or other objects that may interfere with the procedure. You will be asked to remove your clothing and will be given a gown to wear.
This allows doctors and nurses to ensure that the device is working properly. Inserting a pacemaker is a relatively safe procedure. A person is likely to feel some pain or tenderness around the area of insertion, but this should be temporary. Other risks involve:. A period of rest will be necessary, but a person can usually return to their regular routine within a few days. For the first 8 weeks , it is important to avoid sudden movements that involve moving the arms away from the body.
An arrhythmia is a lifelong condition that can become severe. Pacemakers are a highly effective form of treatment, and they can help people with the condition lead relatively regular lives.
Open heart surgery is an operation to repair a fault or damage in the heart. It is a major operation during which the surgeon will open the chest to…. Mitral valve prolapse is when one of the heart valves buckles backward on closing.
It can cause heart arrhythmias, dizziness, and chest pain. A stent is a small tube that doctors can place in a blocked artery to help restore healthy blood flow. In this article, learn more about the procedure,. If a person has atrial fibrillation A-fib that has not responded to other treatment, a catheter ablation may be recommended.
This is an invasive…. What to know about heart pacemakers. This especially applies to pacemakers and cardiac defibrillators. An echocardiogram test uses sound waves to produce live images of your heart. It's used to monitor your heart function. Learn more about what to….
Experts say the small appendage can trap blood in the heart chamber and increase the risk of clots. After a heart attack, your doctor will start you on a treatment plan to prevent a future heart attack or other complication. This will include making…. A heart attack is unpredictable by nature, but it can be prevented and treated with modern medicine. Read on to learn more about what causes a heart….
Researchers say olive oil, as well as certain vegetable oils, are healthier for your heart than animal-based fats. Leigh Pechillo is a heart attack survivor. In this letter, she writes about when she had the heart attack, what it was like, and the recovery process. Having a heart attack puts you at greater risk of getting depression.
This may be from isolating yourself as you work to get better, but it's best to…. In this article, Dr. Harb, a cardiologist, answers questions about how to prevent a future heart attack or stroke if you've had one already.
If you've recently had a heart attack, you probably have a lot of questions for your cardiologist. Use this article as a guide for your first…. During heart surgery, your breastbone sternum is split.
0コメント