Pacemaker insertion procedure

Common Questions and Answers about Pacemaker insertion procedure

pacemaker

what is the procedure to replace battery for a pacemake/defibalotor. what to expect This discussion is related to <a href='/posts/show/396254'>pacemaker battery replacement</a>.

He said I would have to be on Coumadin and heart meds forever after the other two procedures, but only be on Coumadin after the pacemaker insertion. Does that sound right? I'm looking for the option that will make the AF GO AWAY, and I don't need to take meds ANY MORE. Is there such a thing?

The existing leads will be attached to the new pacemaker. It's possible an additional lead will be inserted. I'm sure your husband doesn't look forward to having the procedure again!

My issue is that I have been given the option of having a smaller PM inserted, repositioning of pocket and the leads tucked under the PM. SInce I thought I was through all this in February's changeout, I am having a difficult time making a decision. I have a wonderful EP Dr. and Cardiologist. It is that I cannot make my decision as I would have to go through the procedure all over again, plus the extra surgical work and recovery. Any suggestions?

The focus of my longstanding atrial arrhythmia has not been located in 2 EP studies and I have not done well on drugs. My cardiologist has mentioned the possibility of AV node ablation and pacemaker insertion. He said that some people feel "waves" in the neck after this procedure. What do the waves feel like (e.g. painful, flushing), do they eventually subside and are they of any prognostic significance? Thanks for dealing with my questions.

I had a pacemaker put in November 2010. It was the most horrifying experience I have ever gone through as the lidocaine had absolutely no effect and versed does not work on me so I had full feeling of surgery from the initial incision to the creation of the pocket into my muscle and placement of the pacemaker. My heart rate and blood pressure had been dropping to critical levels. A BP of 60/40 at night and a heart rate in the low to mid thirties was commonplace.

it was a 5 minute procedure to put in and take out. we have also been told a pacemaker is in our future if the medicines do not work. i'm curious to know more about the pacemaker and the pros and cons...

Of course, if the patient is continually in AF, this will not work. Pacemaker insertion can be considered if any of the options are associated with your condition. You may discuss about these with your cardiologist. Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon. Thank you for using MedHelp's "Ask an Expert" Service, where we feature some of world's renowned medical experts in their fields.

Often prior to an ablation a Dr will request a TEE (transesopogeal echocardiograph) This procedure requires the insertion of a tube through your mouth and down your throat so that they wan insert a probe and do an echo right next to the heart to check for blood clots. They numb you out to do this and it is really no big deal although you may experience a sore throat for a couple day.

If not implanted that day, the patient was admitted to the hospital that day and the Pacemaker implanted the next. From what she has told me, the procedure isn't that traumatic. (perhaps others can comment). The leads are somehow inserted, with the tips going into the heart muscle. The Pacemaker itself is implanted into a Pouch created in the chest, apparently above the rib cage itself. She says that most of them are a little bigger than a silver dollar.

I volunteer in a hospital cardiac wing, and work with loved ones who have had heart related surgeries several days a week, and certainly, pacemaker insertions are very common. We get feedback from the patients about their care, etc., and I can't recall anyone who said they had problems other that a sore spot on the chest, but almost all people with pacemaker insertions report greater energy and a better quality of life. I also have a pacemaker, and am feeling great.

We are trying to figure out if we should go direclty to the insertion of a pacemaker vs. an ablasion procedure. Since ablasion procedure may need to be repeated and flecainide (drug after ablasion) is questionable, should we just go directly to the pacemaker?

I also had a pacemaker inserted. So far, I've been having episodes of tacycardia (pulses can be as high as 160 after a short walk), and facial flushing. I am taking Multaq 400 mg with Cardizem 30 mg BID. I've also been informed that another ablation procedure may need to take place due to the location of a possible ectopic node. I wasn't expecting to feel this way after the abalation procedure.

I'd suggest you will be fine as long as you have a new pacemaker inserted, I think the survival rate of the procedure is close to 100%. I'd suggest you proceed with great confidence.

I just found out my pacemaker battery is dead. Will I realize any side affects until the new pacemaker is inserted? This discussion is related to <a href='/posts/show/396259'>pacemaker battery failure</a>.

Hi, The pacemaker replacement surgery can be done during the pregnancy and there’s definitely risk to the growing fetus due to the radiation exposure which occurs during the insertion of the pacemaker to see the correct positioning of the leads, although lead shields are placed to avoid exposure to the baby. Nowadays, to avoid the same, the positioning of the leads can be done with the help of echocardiography and evaluation of the electro physiologic signals.

The best option is to take her back to the doctor who inserted the pacemaker and explain the situation to him. If she has some fever, it may mean that the pacemaker place is infected and needs an urgent intervention.

My wife was diagnosed with WPW in 2007. Doctor did the basic ablation procedure which he later found out did not take care of all the extra pathways. Then he decided to insert a pacemaker on her to address the slow heart beat. Now she has Tachycardia every time after she does any physical activity.

3 months ago I had a dual chamber pacer (Medtronics Selection DR 900E)inserted to control an arrhythmia caused by multiple automatic sites which could not be ablated. 2 weeks later I had a cardiac tamponade. Soon afterward later I was in ER due to tach & was started on sotalol 80mg bid. My tachycardia formerly was very rapid flutters which lasted a short time OR very frequent PAC's. Now it is regular artial tach, ranging from 110-180 and lasts for several hours.

Three months ago I had a pacemaker implanted and during the procedure both of my lungs were nicked that resulted in both of my lungs collapsing about 10 hours after the surgery. I had 2 chest tubes inserted and then was realesed from the hospital a week later. I have had major pain the one side where the tube was and also under my right breast with a burning sensation. I have a very hard time breathing and catching my breath.

Aside from the collapsed lung which happened to you, other risks during pacemaker procedure include swelling, bleeding, bruising, or infection in the area where the pacemaker was placed or blood vessel or nerve damage. It is important to have regular follow-up appointment with your doctor. He or she will want to check your pacemaker and monitor your response. Take care and keep us posted.

His cardiologist had previously stated he was a poor risk for ablation and would insert a pacemaker instead, although he also has let him remain in AFib for 2 + years! I'm an ER nurse and don't understand the rationale behind that and would like to know which procedure would be more appropriate or if there are any other options. Thank you Ann C.

I returned to work and mostly normal activities 16 days after my pacemaker was inserted. I developed pericarditis 18 days after my pacemaker was implanted in my right shoulder area. I have a two-lead pacemaker, Guidant model 1270, with leads 4461 & 4451. The fluid buildup was so great I experienced tamponod (sp?) and had an emergency catheter inserted into the pericardial sac. Approx 1 pt of fluid (looked like blood to me) was removed.

I didn't feel a thing, I slept through the whole procedure. I wish to ask, if anyone has a pacemaker implanted under the sedation? Did you wake up in the middle of the procedure? Did you feel pain or uncomfort during the procedure? Or you slept through the whole procedure without knowing anything? Why they only let me choose from either local or general anesthetic? Is there a sedation performed during this kind of procedure?

I have A-FIb, I have been on coumadin for over five years, I have cardiomyopathy, I have a pacemaker/defibrillator. Recently I had a CAT-scan that indicated a blood clot around the pacemaker wires in a vein leading to the superior vena cava vein back to the heart. I had symptoms: swelling in the face and neck, extended veins on the chest, etc. I was in the hospital for several days and the symptoms above subsided.

I have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and a pacemaker was inserted last year. After the pacer was inserted, I had all the symptoms your mother experienced, and my doctor and also the manufacturer's rep of the pacer checked how it was programmed. In my case, reprogramming it helped me instantly. I would suggest checking both with the doctor and the pacer manufacturer.

And when I tell them this, they check the pacemaker and say that everything is just fine, they see no problems with the pacemaker at all. Is it normal to have depression after something like this? I am on depression meds but they do not seem to work at all. I've had my pacemaker now for almost 4 years.

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