Pacemaker

Pacemakers are the electrical devices that can be placed in our body using surgery. It helps to support the electrical system of our heart. During some arrhythmias, the normal function of heart gets effected. The heart may beat too fast, too slowly or in an irregular rhythms.

Pacemakers send electrical signals to the heart to beat at normal rate and rhythm. It also helps in normal beat of the chambers in the heart so that it can pump blood more efficiently in our body. 

Types of pacemaker implantations:

Depending upon the condition of the heart, one may need a temporary (short term) or a permanent (long term) pacemaker. The Indian hospitals can implant all types of Pacemaker implantations.

  • A temporary pacemaker is normally inserted through vein and remains outside of the body.
  • On the other hand, a permanent pacemaker is placed in the chest of our body.

After inserting the pacemaker inside the body, many people return to their normal and regular activities within few days.

How does a pacemaker work?

Our heart has its own electrical system to provide electric signal. These signals tell the chamber of our heart, when to squeeze so that it can pump enough blood in our body.

But when there is any malfunction in the system, then the chamber may squeeze in wrong order or squeeze too weakly to supply blood all over the body.

The pacemaker provides electrical impulses to correct this kind of malfunction of the heart.

There are certain conditions that a pacemaker can treat.

Those are:

1) Certain heart arrhythmias

2) Disruption of electrical system of the heart

3) Failure of heart

 4) History of heart attack

Signs that you need a pacemaker

Before inserting a pacemaker inside the body, the healthcare providers confirm depending on the signs or symptoms of the patients.

Some of the symptoms are:

  • Pain in chest
  • Tachycardia (unusual fast heart beat)
  • Bradycardia (unusual slow heart beat)
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Shortness of breathing

 

Types of pacemaker:

Depending on the problem of the heart, specific types of pacemakers are used

Some of them may include:

Leadless pacemaker: it is a small pacemaker inserted  using a procedure catheter  based .it attached to the inner wall of the heart so it doesn’t need a wire.

Single chamber pacemaker: it uses a single wire which is attached to one chamber of the heart.

Dual chamber pacemaker: it uses two wire attached to two chamber of the heart.

Biventricular  pacemaker:  it uses three wires.two of them are connected to the lower chambers and the other is connected to upper chamber.

 

Risk  associated with pacemaker:

In almost every medical procedures, there are always some risk factors involved. There are certain risk involved with pacemaker.

Some of them are….

  • Allergies to anesthesia
  • Bleeding
  • Damage of blood vessels
  • Build up of scar tissue  around pacemaker

Precautions that should be taken after inserting pacemaker

  • Being around the magnetic field or the magnet
  • Keeping cell phone in upper pocket near the heart
  • Wearing smart watch
  • Extended exposure to metal detector

However some people may feel  stressed or anxious or even scared. In that case you may need seek for help from healthcare providers. They can guide you properly.

India has reach newer milestones in the healthcare technologies. Today some of the most complicated pacemaker implantations are done in India for the patients from many countries. The Indian hospitals have their expertise, technology, and experience for superior pacemaker implantation.

Frequently Ask Questions