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, and they are listed below:
- A fixed-rate pacemaker gives off electrical impulses at a steady, regular rate, regardless of the level of activity.
- A rate-responsive pacemaker changes the rate of electrical impulses as the patient's 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. The doctor monitors the 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.
For pacemaker implantation, 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 one hour.
Condition Details :
A slow heart rhythm due to an abnormal SA (sinus) node. Sinus node dysfunction is treated with a pacemaker.
