Cardiac Pacemaker Implants & Checks in North Jersey

Do I need a pacemaker?

The heart rhythm can be disrupted for a number of different reasons. In many of these cases, a pacemaker is required in order to get the heart back into a normal rhythm anytime it disrupts. Some of the reasons a pacemaker is needed include:

• Damage from a heart attack
• Normal aging
• Genetic conditions
• Slow heartbeat

In these situations, the pacemaker will help regulate heart problems to ensure that the organ continues to beat regularly.

What is a pacemaker?

The heart muscle works through electricity. The heart has four different chambers that control blood flow in order to provide oxygenated blood throughout the body and to send used blood to the lungs for more oxygenation. If the electrical pulses are disrupted, the heart will not beat properly. In these cases, a pacemaker can take over. There are two parts to the pacemaker:

• The Device Itself: which is a battery operated generator capable of created pulses of electricity.
• Two Electrodes: which are encased in insulation, lead from the device to the heart so that electrical pulses can be sent to the organ.
• The pacemaker detects if the heartbeat becomes irregular or too slow in order to send an electrical pulse to shock the heart back into proper rhythm.

Risks of the Pacemaker

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks to having a pacemaker implanted. Any patient should know the risks before undergoing the surgery. The risks are considered uncommon and minimal, but they should be noted. They include:

• Cardiac Infection
• Heart Swelling and Bruising
• Internal or External Bleeding
• Collapsed or Punctured Lung
• Punctured Heart
• Blood Vessel Damage

Pacemaker Implantation Surgery

Before undergoing pacemaker implantation surgery, a number of tests will be done to check and monitor the heart. The pacemaker will be placed under the skin and the leads will be attached. The patient will need to spend a day or two in the hospital to recover.

Following Pacemaker Implantation Surgery

At home, the patient will need to spend a few days to recover and will need to get used to the process of sending information to the doctor. This will include using a telephone line and a specialty wand to gather information from the pacemaker and send it to the physician for review.