Pacemaker procedure how to
Common Questions and Answers about Pacemaker procedure how to
pacemaker
when I was last in hospital, an 87 year old man in the bed next to me had a pacemaker fitted. Before the procedure, he could hardly walk, even using a frame, and was always
panting/going dizzy. Within one day of the procedure he was walking without the frame
and wasn't panting. His colour returned to normal and I was totally shocked and blown away by the transformation.
My husband had pericardial effusion from the implantation of a pacemaker defibrillator with resynchronization lead.
My father had cognitive changes resulting from his head trauma and the first pacemaker implantation procedure and the related sedation knocked him for a loop. He is ambulating now, regaining memory and stamina but is still quite weak. Should he wait or just have the repositioning done now? He will be going for rehab after hospitalization.
This discussion is related to <a href='/posts/show/656556'>Pacemaker Lead dislodgement</a>.
Regular checks are a normal routine in the UK and the checkups can even be done over the phone with the right equipment, or even over the internet. During a checkup the Doctor uses a 'programmer' which is held over the pacemaker and it gives information as to how it's working. Adjustments can also be made through the programmer, changing the way the pacemaker is working. I am shocked that he never had a checkup.
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>.
my dads x-rays in january showed his heart was normal size now in may it show enlarge 10 to 15 % of his heart is working . we have pacemaker/defil in and was told he has CHF so how long does it take for you heart to enlarge?
This discussion is related to <a href='http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/251875'>Enlarged Heart</a>.
Really this is a question for the implanting doctor to answer, as he know his own rate of complications. In general at our institution the immediate risks are of lung collapse, bleeding in the pocket or around the heart requiring pericadiocentesis ( draining of the blood around the heart) or open heart surgery. This is very rare, occurring less than 1/1000 patients. Long term consequences include infection of the device or leads, requirement of long term follow up.
To remove the pacemaker itself isn't difficult. They make a small incision like the first time, remove the pacemaker and disconnect the leads, clean out the "pocket" and close things up. Or they can connect a new one before they sew you up again.
If they also want to remove the leads, that's another story. The leads become rather embedded in the heart tissue and they don't simply slide out like unplugging the toaster.
I had a pacemaker implanted 8 weeks ago; I was pleased on how I felt after the procedure. I was climbing 3 flights every day after walking from the parking lot to the building. Last week I underwent an av node ablation as the final procedure to correct my arrhythmia. Since, I started to retain fluids and, consequently, my physical activities diminished considerably. Went to the doctor for the fatigue and breathless issues and I was put on Lasix 40mg/day.
t want to be on meds for who knows how long. I had to have two ablations b/c the bad pathway burnt in the first one was masking some other bad pathways. During the 2nd one, four more places were burnt and one of them they couldn't be burnt as long b/c it was closer to the AV node. I had told my doc before all of this that I wanted him to be conservative b/c I didn't want any chance of needing a pacemaker!
If I remember correctly, I think it depends on how ofter the pacer is "active." Are you paced 100% of the time? My dad had a pacemaker put in in 1999 and it was replaced with a Bi-V pacemaker/ICD in 2006. It hadn't worn out, but his EF was low and the unit is considered safer for people with a compromised EF. Hope the procedure goes well and you have renewed energy with your new pacer!
I am confused. I had a drug eluting stent placed in my heart about a month ago. I am taking Plavix and 2-81mg aspirin daily. My cardiologist told me before the stent was put in that i should have my 2-wire pacemaker replaced with a 3-wire pacemaker. So I began making arrangements for this procedure. Now my Cardiologist tells me that I have to wait another 5 months to do this because I don't dare stop the Plavix and aspirin.
How do you know the "batteries need replacing"? Modern pacemakers don't just "die". When the battery voltage drops to a certain level. The pacemaker will go into an "end of life mode" (battery, not person). It's sort of a last ditch conservation mode until the battery can be replaced. What happens then is the pacemaker will fire to a preset pulse rate. It will no longer take into account what the user's heart is doing.
The surgery was accompanied with a maze procedure to normalize the heart beat rate to normal. However, after the surgery she has still been kept on pacemaker as cardiologists said her heart rate is still on 48-55 per minute (which is quite slow). The cardiologists have suggested that if the heart rate does not return back to normal a permanent pacemaker maybe required. Can anyone please suggest whether to wait for the heart beat to be back to normal or go for the pacemaker.
First of all, listen to what the cardio doctor say instead of your PCP. Cardio's speciality is the heart so I would take their advise over a PCP. From what I understand, having a-fib for a long period of time can cause damage to your heart. That is what my EP told me, and when my a-fib became progressively worse and more frequent it was decided that an ablation was needed. Now the AV node ablation is something I do not know alot about.
I met with him last July, also looked into a FIRM ablation procedure at OSU. At that time they had only done 26 and I opted to wait. This procedure has a much higher success rate. I am now being seen at the Cleveland Clinic this summer to get their opinion. I don't know where you are located, but they are one of the best centers in the Midwest, and one report I read said in the world. The AV node ablation with pacemaker is a possibility also, and some people are in permanent afib.
I am pacemaker dependent from the procedure.(means my heart no longer beats on its own) I feel much less tired, an was able to regain a pretty normal life after the procedure. I thank God every day for it. I was able to stop taking cardiac meds. which helps lessen the tiredness too. Research complications of this procedure before proceeding and discuss this with your mom and her doctor, knowledge is power! stay strong!
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