A pacemaker is a medical device that monitors heart activity. If the heart is beating abnormally, it delivers electrical impulses to maintain an optimal heart rate. Pacemaker implantation is a minor procedure that usually takes less than an hour.
Here you will find further information as well as a selection of specialists for pacemaker implantation.
A pacemaker consists of
It is only about the size of a matchbox. The pacemaker’s housing is made of titanium. Long-lasting lithium-iodine batteries are used.
The leads are connected to the atrium and/or ventricle of the heart and transmit the heart’s electrical activity to the pacemaker. When the heart rate slows down, the pacemaker sends electrical impulses through the leads to achieve an optimal heart rate.
The defibrillator represents a further development of pacemaker systems. The defibrillator is also used to treat arrhythmias caused by an abnormally fast heart rate.
Implantable pacemakers are generally classified into four different types. The type of pacemaker used depends on the specific heart condition and its associated symptoms.
The single-chamber pacemaker has only one lead. It is implanted in the right atrium or the right ventricle. If the heart is not generating its own electrical activity, the pacemaker sends electrical impulses to the heart. This causes the atrium or ventricle to contract.
With a dual-chamber pacemaker, stimulation is delivered via two electrodes in the right atrium and the right ventricle. In exceptional cases, the left ventricle may also be stimulated. Dual-chamber pacemakers coordinate the contraction of the atrium and ventricle.
Three-chamber pacemakers have three leads. These can stimulate the right atrium as well as the left and right ventricles. Three-chamber pacemakers are implanted when the heart is no longer beating in a coordinated manner.
Rate-adaptive pacemakers can adjust the heart rate to the body’s needs. Sensors detect body movement and respiratory volume and adjust the rate accordingly.
A pacemaker is implanted in the chest; the electrodes are placed directly into the heart © peterschreiber.media | AdobeStock
Pacemakers are classified as either temporary or permanent. In general, treatment with a pacemaker should last as short a time as possible.
Temporary pacemakers are not implanted under the skin. They stimulate heart activity via the esophagus or the skin. Temporary pacemakers are used in cases of
.
Various medical conditions may require a permanent pacemaker, such as arrhythmias or bradycardia. In bradycardia, the heart beats too slowly—significantly below 60 beats per minute—or may even stop beating altogether. As a result, those affected suffer from
If the ECG shows prolonged pauses or conduction blocks, a pacemaker can take over as the standard treatment.
The implantation of a pacemaker is a minor surgical procedure that usually takes less than an hour.
Under local anesthesia, the electrodes are inserted through a skin incision below the clavicular fossa and advanced through a vein into the heart.
The position of the pacemaker leads can be monitored and optimally adjusted using fluoroscopy. Conductivity and function can be tested through immediate follow-up measurements. The pacemaker generator is then connected to the leads.
The pacemaker unit is implanted into a tissue pocket between the chest muscles. A drainage tube may be required to divert any external bleeding.
The day after the procedure, the patient can be discharged home after a functional check of the pacemaker and the wound.
The patient receives a pacemaker ID card. This card contains important information about the type, function, and programming of the implanted device, as well as details regarding follow-up appointments.
You should always carry this card with you in the future.
The following specific complications may occur during and after pacemaker implantation:
Once the wound has healed and the pacemaker is properly programmed, you can resume a completely normal life.
However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when using a pacemaker. In exceptional cases, the functioning of pacemakers can be impaired by electrical circuits and magnetic fields. Devices such as, among others,
, you should keep a distance of half to one arm’s length. Sources of interference with special markings, such as
must be completely avoided. After a pacemaker is implanted, patients are given comprehensive information about potential risk factors.
As a general rule, people with pacemakers must undergo regular checkups. During these checkups, the doctor
The intervals between pacemaker checkups range from half a year to one year.
When the pacemaker reaches the end of its service life, it is completely replaced. This procedure is also performed under local anesthesia. Since a tissue pocket is already in place, replacing the pacemaker is a minor procedure.
Every physician listed in the Leading Medicine Guide has attained the highest level of training and certification within their respective medical specialty society. Furthermore, we contacted this physician based, among other factors, on their case volume (surgeries, treatments, and therapies), which we determined by cross-referencing various publicly available sources. Following discussions with the selected physicians and the directors of the medical facilities, as well as a subsequent internal review, they were admitted to the Leading Medicine Guide.
The quality assurance of the Leading Medicine Guide is further ensured by 8 admission criteria. Each member must meet at least 6 of them:
