Pacemaker Implant

Pacemaker implantation is a cardiac treatment in which electronic device is placed under the skin of chest (just below your collarbone) that monitors the electronic function of the heart and generates an electrical impulse that makes heart beat more evenly. Some diseases or abnormalities prevent the pacemaker cells from doing their job; in consequence the heart may not beat normally.A small battery made electronic device, called a pacemaker is implanted for generating a normal heart beat. These artificial electronic signals encourage the flawed heart to beat at a more normal rate for smooth running of heart beat procedure. It is difficult to survive without a pacemaker for any human who has trouble in heart beat frequency because, in such a condition, the heart cannot keep enough blood circulation to provide sufficient oxygen to muscles, the brain and other organs. If the abnormal rate of heart beat is untreated without pacemaker then it can be life threatening.

Heart is like a muscle, and similar as the other muscle of human body, it also contracts and relaxes. Heart normally beats (or contracts) 50 to 80 times a minute during the time of rest. During the anxious or stressed state, heart can beat at two or three times more than of this rate to pump blood faster around your body. Sinoatrial node (SA node), or simply the sinus node is the natural pacemaker that generates the electrical impulses that spread throughout your heart, causing it to beat. Heart block, arrhythmia and heart failure are the causes that adversely affect Sinoatrial node. Some basic symptoms that indicate or may increase the risk of heart failure without treating it through pacemaker transplantation are such as-fainting, dizziness, lack of energy, fatigue, shortness of breath, intolerance of exercise.

Endocardial (transvenous) and epicardial approach are two major methods for implanting the pacemaker. In both the implantation procedure, surgery is performed under local or general anesthesia. Epicardial approach is mostly performed in children.

Surgery for pacemaker implant is performed by making an incision in the chest area where the leads and pacemaker are inserted. Through the incision, surgeon connects the leads to pacemaker and program the device for medical needs. The lead tip is attached to the heart muscle, while the other end of the lead is placed in a pocket created under the skin in the upper chest for generating beats. Incision of the chest is then closed. This surgical procedure usually takes about 2-5 hours depending on condition of patient. Some discomfort & pain can be experienced during the initial 2 days of the procedure but it diminishes automatically after some days and patient gets a perfect heartbeat proportion.