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Pacemaker   

Overview

Alternative names:

Artificial pacemaker; Permanent pacemaker; Internal pacemaker

Information

A pacemaker generally has two parts -- the generator and the leads. The generator is where the battery and the information to regulate the heartbeat are stored. The leads are wires that go from the generator through a large vein to the heart where the wires are anchored. The leads send the electrical impulses to the heart to tell it to beat.

The battery can last anywhere from 7-8 years on average and will be routinely monitored by your healthcare professional and replaced when necessary. The generators have become smaller over the years and often weigh less than 30 grams (a little less than an ounce).

A pacemaker can usually sense if the heartbeat is above a certain level, at which point it will automatically turn off. Likewise, the pacemaker can sense when the heartbeat slows down too much, and will automatically turn back on and start pacing again.

A pacemaker is often the treatment of choice for people who have a heart condition that causes their heart to beat irregularly. An irregular heart rate is called an arrhythmia. The most common condition for treatment with a pacemaker is bradycardia (a slower than normal heart rate). Symptoms of bradycardia can include lightheadedness, dizziness, exercise intolerance, and fainting. Generally, your physician will require you to have some tests done to determine the cause of the bradycardia before a pacemaker is inserted.

Pacemakers are also used for people who have a rapid or irregular heart rate. The pacemaker helps maintain a slower rate.

Some of the medical conditions that cause arrhythmias and may be treated with a pacemaker include:

• Atrial fibrillation -- the atria beats too fast or not at a regular rate
• Ventricular fibrillation -- the ventricles beat too fast or not at a regular rate
• Bradycardia the heart rate is too slow
• Tachycardia -- the heart rate is too fast
• Heart block -- the natural electrical impulse from the sinoatrial (SA) node, also called the sinus node, is delayed or blocked and does not give the right signals to the heart to beat

In most cases the procedure for inserting a pacemaker will take less than an hour. Some people have to remain in the hospital for 1-2 days following the procedure to be monitored, while others may go home the same day as the surgery. Length of hospital stay depends on the specific medical condition.

COMPLICATIONS:
There are only a few devices in the environment that might interfere with a pacemaker. The American Heart Association recommends that if you have a pacemaker you should pay attention to your surroundings and the devices that may interfere. You should always carry identification with you that indicates you have a pacemaker.

• Most home appliances (e.g., microwave, CB radios) do NOT interfere with the pacemaker.
• Currently, cellular phones in the U.S. do NOT interfere with pacemakers, but it is a good idea to stay abreast of the newer phones and frequencies that are being developed to be sure there won't be any disturbances.
• Some medical and dental equipment might interfere with your pacemaker, so it is important to always let your health care providers know before having any treatment that you have a pacemaker in place.
• Arc welding equipment and equipment with powerful magnets have the potential to interfere with the pace generator.

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