Pacemakers can be surgically placed into the chest (a permanent pacemaker) through a small incision, or they can be worn outside the body (a temporary pacemaker) and attached to the heart through a wire that is threaded through a neck vein. Temporary pacemakers are used only while a person is in the hospital.There are several types of permanent pacemakers.
- A fixed-rate pacemaker gives off electrical impulses at a steady, regular rate, regardless of your level of activity.
- A rate-responsive pacemaker changes the rate of electrical impulses as your activity level changes.
- A single-chamber pacemaker controls only the lower chamber of the heart (ventricle).
- A dual-chamber pacemaker controls both the top (atrium) and bottom (ventricle) chambers of the heart.
Many times the pacemaker is set to work only when the heart rate falls below a certain predetermined rate (demand mode).
The battery in a permanent pacemaker usually lasts 5 to 15 years. Your doctor will monitor your pacemaker regularly to decide when the battery should be changed.
The surgery needed to implant a permanent pacemaker is considered a minor surgical procedure. It can usually be done using local anesthesia, which means part of your body is numbed, but you stay awake.
A small incision is made in the chest wall. The pacemaker leads are usually threaded through the incision into a large blood vessel in the upper chest and into the heart. Using the same incision, a small pocket is created under the skin to hold the pulse generator. The leads are then hooked up to the pulse generator. The entire procedure usually takes about 1 hour.
Condition Details :
A slow heart rhythm due to an abnormal SA (sinus) node. Sinus node dysfunction is treated with a pacemaker.
