They will check to make sure the device is programmed correctly for you before you leave. They may also make sure the device can send data remotely. Your doctor will give you instructions to follow as you heal at home, such as:.
The procedure to place a pacemaker is generally safe. However, complications can happen from the procedure or the pacemaker itself. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of a pacemaker.
Complications may include:. A pacemaker can improve daily life for many people. Once you have a pacemaker, you will need regular doctor visits to check your health condition and the pacemaker. Carry your pacemaker ID card with you for emergencies. Show it to airport security, new doctors, or other people who need to know about your device. You may need to visit your doctor several times a year to check your pacemaker.
In between visits, your doctor may be able to check that the battery and wires are still working. You may also need to come in if your doctor needs to reprogram the pacemaker. You can check with your doctor regularly about device software updates and upgrades. If you have a pacemaker, avoid close or prolonged contact with electrical devices or devices that have strong magnetic fields. These devices can disrupt the electrical signaling of your pacemaker and stop it from working properly.
You may not be able to tell when this happens. To be safe, keep your pacemaker at least 6 inches away from such devices or only use them briefly, when needed. If something disrupts your pacemaker, step away from whatever is disturbing it to help your pacemaker return to normal.
Talk to your doctor right away about what else to avoid, as any kind of powerful electrical or industrial equipment can interfere with your pacemaker. This includes welding machines or electric fences for pets. Medical and dental procedures that can affect your pacemaker include:.
The effects depend on what type of device you have. Always tell your doctor or dentist that you have a pacemaker and show them the device ID card. They may be able to make certain changes if you need the procedure or test. It is important to pay attention to any changes or unusual patterns in your pacemaker. Call your doctor if you think there is a problem.
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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. During the procedure, patients will lie flat on a table for the duration of the implantation.
The upper chest will be scrubbed and shaved if needed and patients will be covered with sterile sheets. The doctor will give a local anesthetic to numb the skin and tissue at the site of the pacemaker implantation. After the area is numb, the doctor will guide the leads through the vein and into the heart's right-side chambers using fluoroscopy X-ray monitors. Access to the vein under the collar bone is obtained and one or more leads thin wire-like tubes are advanced to the heart. The leads are connected to the pacemaker and closed under the skin.
Once the lead has been positioned, the doctor will make a two- to three-inch incision in the skin, creating a small "pacemaker pocket. The doctor will suture the incision over the pacemaker and place a dressing over it.
If the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, patients may be allowed to leave after completing the recovery process. However, if there are concerns or problems with the ECG, patients may stay in the hospital for an additional day or longer for monitoring of the ECG. Patients should be able to return to their daily routine within a few days.
The doctor will tell you if you will need to take more time in returning to normal activities. In addition, patients should not do any lifting or pulling on anything for a few weeks.
Patients may be instructed not to lift arms above the head for a certain period. Patients will most likely be able to resume their usual diet, unless the doctor instructs differently. If you notice signs of infection or bleeding on your incision site and seek medical attention, do not let anyone insert a needle into the area around the device to remove or collect fluid as this may result in an infection. Activity on the side of the pacemaker should be limited for week six weeks recommended for biventricular pacemaker as follows:.
Cover the pacemaker site if in direct sunlight as the metal of the device will warm beneath the skin. Electromagnetic fields can interfere with the pacemaker's ability to sense an abnormal rhythm. Some devices and machines are safe to use while other devices are not:.
Carry your pacemaker identification card in your wallet at all times. You will be given a temporary card upon discharge. A permanent card will be mailed to you from the pacemaker manufacturer in weeks. We suggest that you wear a Medic Alert Emblem. Please ask for the form if you have not been given one. Please notify your pacemaker manufacturer if you have a new address or phone number. Their toll-free phone number is on the temporary and permanent identification card.
It is very important that you have your pacemaker checked regularly 4 to 6 weeks after implant and every 6 months thereafter. It is recommended that you know your pacemaker parameters. We will tell you what heart rate your pacemaker parameters and answer any questions that you may have regarding your device programming upon discharge or during your first clinic visit for a wound check or device check.
Some devices are equipped with remote monitoring capabilities where you can send information about your pacemaker from home that the clinic can view. We recommend that you have this capability for your routine device surveillance.
We will discuss with you at your clinic visit. You should lie down immediately, make sure you are in a safe environment, away from any machines or moving vehicles, and call a friend or family member, or call , if you feel any of the following symptoms:.
Stanford Arrhythmia Service: - for questions or problems available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the past, people with pacemakers risked interference with the proper functioning of their pacemakers if they were too close to car distributors, radar, microwaves, electric blankets, and airport security detectors. However, with improvements in pacemaker technology, these issues are no longer of major concern.
The following precautions should always be considered. Discuss the following in detail with the doctor:. Always consult your doctor if you have any questions concerning the use of certain equipment near your pacemaker. Once the pacemaker has been implanted, people with pacemakers should be able to do the same activities everyone else in their age group is doing.
When involved in a physical, recreational, or sporting activity, a person with a pacemaker should avoid receiving a blow to the skin over the pacemaker.
A blow to the chest near the pacemaker can affect its functioning. See your doctor if a blow to chest is received near the pacemaker. Always consult with the doctor when feeling ill after an activity, or if there are questions about beginning a new activity. Although the pacemaker is built to last several years, always check the device regularly to ensure that it is working properly.
The pulse rate is a measurement of the heart rate, or the number of times the heart beats per minute. As the heart pushes blood through the arteries, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of the blood. The normal pulse rate for healthy adults ranges from 60 to beats per minute. The pulse rate may fluctuate and increase with exercise, illness, injury, and emotions. Girls ages 12 and older and women, in general, tend to have faster heart rates than do boys and men.
Athletes, such as runners, who do a lot of cardiovascular conditioning may have heart rates in the 40s and experience no problems. As the heart forces blood through the arteries, you feel the beats by firmly pressing on the arteries, which are located close to the surface of the skin at certain points of the body. The pulse can be found on the side of the lower neck, on the inside of the elbow, or at the wrist. If the doctor has ordered you to check your own pulse and you are having difficulty finding it, consult your doctor for additional instruction.
Possibly, depending on the type of mobile phone being used. Today's pacemakers are engineered to withstand interference from analog cellular phones. However, in some cases, digital mobile phones may interfere with pacemakers. According to the American Heart Association, a group of mobile phone companies is studying the newer mobile phones with new frequency and their effect on pacemakers. We recommend mobile phones should not be used directly above the pacemaker. Patients are instructed to hold their mobile phone six inches away from the pacemaker and to hold the phone to the ear opposite of the pacemaker.
Patients are instructed not to keep them in the "on" position in a pocket on top of the pacemaker. Most electrical and mechanical devices won't interfere with the pacemaker.
In general, patients may use any appliance or go anywhere except into areas where strong electrical interference may exist. Patients should always tell any doctor or dentist that they have a pacemaker. Microwave ovens, computers, DVD players, small electric tools, and garage door openers are all safe to use.
Patients are instructed to avoid large magnetic fields such as: leaning over a car engine while it is running, running motorcycle engines, chainsaws, power plants, etc. When traveling in the airport, patients are instructed to tell Security that they have a pacemaker and Security will hand search the patient instead of having the patient walk through the metal detector. The metal detector will not harm the pacemaker, but the patient may set off the alarm.
Patients are instructed that they cannot have an MRI done because of the possible magnetic interference. Some pacemakers may need to be adjusted if a patient's medical condition or lifestyle changes. Don't get a pacemaker Don't get a pacemaker You take medicines for whatever disease is causing your heart rate problem.
You eat healthy foods, and you exercise as your doctor advises. You see your doctor regularly to check your symptoms and how your medicine is working. You won't have the risk of infection or other problems from the surgery. You won't have to think about safety around devices that could stop your pacemaker from working.
Your symptoms could get worse. This would limit your ability to do your daily activities. You might be at risk for fainting or falling, which could be dangerous. Personal stories about considering a pacemaker These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers.
What matters most to you? Reasons to get a pacemaker Reasons not to get a pacemaker. I want to feel better so that I can do my daily activities. I'm not having too much trouble doing my daily activities. I don't mind having a device in my body. I don't like the idea of having a device in my body. My medicines aren't controlling my symptoms anymore. My symptoms aren't getting worse. I'm not worried about risks from surgery, because they're small. My other important reasons: My other important reasons:.
Where are you leaning now? Getting a pacemaker NOT getting a pacemaker. What else do you need to make your decision? Check the facts. True You're right. You still need to follow a healthy lifestyle. False Sorry, that's not right. I'm not sure It may help to go back and read "Get the Facts. True Sorry, that's not right. Some people with no symptoms are still at risk of getting a dangerously slow heart rate in the future. A pacemaker may be used to help prevent that. False You're right.
True That's right. Decide what's next. Yes No. I'm ready to take action. I want to discuss the options with others. I want to learn more about my options. Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Your Summary. Your decision Next steps. Which way you're leaning. How sure you are. Your comments. Your knowledge of the facts Key concepts that you understood.
Key concepts that may need review. Getting ready to act Patient choices. What matters to you. Print Summary. Credits and References Credits. Res JCJ, et al. Pneumothorax resulting from subclavian puncture: a complication of permanent pacemaker lead implantation. Netherlands Heart Journal, 12 3 : — Poole JE, et al. Complication rates associated with pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator generator replacements and upgrade procedures. Circulation, 16 : — Accessed December 15, Baddour LM, et al.
Update on cardiovascular implantable electronic device infections and their management. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 3 — Get the facts Compare your options What matters most to you? Get the Facts Your options Get a pacemaker. Compare your options Get a pacemaker Don't get a pacemaker What is usually involved? You will have minor surgery or a procedure to have the pacemaker put in. You take medicines for whatever disease is causing your heart rate problem.
Check the facts 1. True False I'm not sure. You're right. I don't need a pacemaker if I don't have any symptoms.
That's right. Decide what's next 1. Do you understand the options available to you? Certainty 1. Check what you need to do before you make this decision.
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