Understanding Your Heart's Pacemaker
Understanding Your Heart's Pacemaker
Ventricular
Systole
Systole
regulates how fast vour heart must beat in order to ensure proper
blood and gx-ygen tb flow through your oooy. nn uu"iugu amount of
h#ri!rt"
between 60 & 80 beats per min-ute in an ariurt, but heiri ,rt". at rest is
number of reasons.
.rn vary for a
Why Do You Need a Pacem aker?
e Most pacemakers are recommended when a patient experiences symptoms
that are due to an inappropriately slow heart rate.
There are many causes of a slow heart rate. Most of these commonly involve
the heart's own pacemaker, the S-A node or the heart's own electrical
conduction system (wiring systems).
When any of these things happen, your heart does not pump enough blood to
meet your body's need. As a result you may feel tired, weak, sluggish, dizzy,
light-headed or short of breath. ln certain cases, the problem is severe enough
to cause the patient to "faint".
Natural Blocked
Electrical Pathway lmpulse
.tat
SUBCIAVIAN VEIN
M]IURY VEIN
-----ilffin'o'
,r.
i,,rjit
, 1i'
The pulse generator controls the pacing System. lt contains the battery and
elecironic iircuitry which produce the electrical impulses as needed and acts as
a brain within thssystem. Atypical pulse generator is very small in size, often
Less than two incheswide and a quarter inch thick, most weigh about an ounce
oitl5. The pacing lead is the wire which goes from the generator to the inside
of the heart iarryiig the electrical signal. The whole system is extremely
ieliable anO depbnJable and works in a manner similar to your natural
pacemaker.
* Types of Pacemaker
Most pacemakers are single chamber, i.e. they stimulate only one chamber of
the heart. They need one pacing lead which not only can deliver a small
iYt
Sensed verlricLrlar comprex Venlr cJ'ar pace
tv\v/ \
t
and
Sensend A and pace'
Atrial pace' Ventflclular
V complexes pace
electrical impulse to the heart muscle, but can also sense when the heart is
beating properly on its own and signal the pacemaker to hold off on the next
electrical impulse. (demand pacing).
Telemetry
It is a "two-way,,
conversation between your
pacemaker and your
doctor,s
computerised programmers.
r hts two-way
conversation
arows your doctors to more
accurately evaluate and
aoJUSt your pacemaker according
to your needs. This is simpt/ - '
done by computer assessment
trom outside your body even
though the .,generator.. is
rmptanted inside your body.
Programmability
It a'ows your
doctor the opportunity to reprogram
pacemaker as needed to the erectricar settings of your
improve iol"r quatity of life.
Pacemaker lmplantation
lmpranting a pacemakelr!
noy av^erycomroll
"c.i.'iJ.'c't procedure which, most often, is
n i",i,,ii i" ii i,,",,
3:i? i : fl : ii.?;j :il:i l,*jl
I "'."
The procedure normally requires
only minimal anaesthetic which
will be reraxed but awaie,. ilow"e"v!r.'v., means you
anaesthetic to ressen any discomfort #,i, have a rocar injection of
at the mrnor operation site (incision
site)
What Happens Before the Surgery ?
As with many surqeries, you wiil be
asked not to eat or drink for severar hours
belore surgery. preparatibn otten oegins with
wastring. v_our upper chest area,
usrng antibacteriar soap to protect th6 incision
from in-fectionr. hrv hair on the
upper chest and shourder wiil be shaved.
vou wirr rruu" iv tine ptaceo in a
vein in your arm. This is used to giv; you
medication, if "n
required.
when the pacemaker and the reads are being inserted, you
pressure. lf you begin to feer any discomfort,let may feer some
the docior t<noii, immeJiatety
so you can receive some additionar medication to
xeep-ih" ;r;; numb. you
may be asked to take deep breaths and to cough
vigorousty, wnit. yo* doctor
watches an
|-1ay of your heart on X-ray video. This is done to ensure secure
placement of the leads.
What Happens After the Surg ery ?
S You will probably spend a short time
in a recovery room and then will be
shifted back to your hospital room.
You may have a little soreness around
' the incision line, where the pacemaker
was implanted. This is often treated
with pain medication, if needed.
. You can usually go home, anywhere
within a day or two after surgery - it all
depends on your particular case.
During the first few days after surgery, avoid sudden, jerky movement with your
arms or stretching or reaching over your head. your doctor will tell you when to
resume your usual bathing routine and other normal activities.
The symptoms you experienced from the original abnormal heart rhythm should
diminish and, hopefully disappear altogether. lf you notice new sensation as
your body adjusts to your pacemaker, tell your doctor. This will help the doctor
adjust the electrical settings of your pacemaker to better suit your particular
needs.
M
ffL&0rffiffit
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@
C
What About Follow-UP Care ?
Pacemakers are extremely dependable devices. However, it is important to
periodically check the pacemaker to make sure that it iS functioning properly
and that its settings remain appropriate for your medical needs.
Pacemaker batteries usually do not stop suddenly. One of the purposes of your
follow-up care is to monitor battery Status. Your pacemaker will give ample
warning (months ahead of time) that the batteries are reaching depletion. At
this time your doctor will schedule replacement procedure. The same minor
Surgery is required to replace the pulse generator as performed during the
original implantation. Normally, this is easier than the original procedure
because the leads are already implanted and usually do not require
replacement. They are simply reconnected to the new pulse generator.
After Discharge from Hospital
1. Carry a pacemaker card which contains youi. pacemaker information and a
copy of your pacemaker programming parameters with you at all times,
2. Return gradually to your usual lifestyle.
3. lf you experience any of the following symptoms, notify your doctor:
V Shortness of breath
V rainting, dizziness
V Chest pain
V Excessive hiccoughing
V Muscle twitching in the pacemaker area
V Swelling of the feet / ankles
V Redness or drainage at the insertion site
Do not wait for the severity of the symptoms to increase.
4. Tell your dentist, local doctor, care giver, work supervisor and airport security
guard that you have a pacemaker.
5. Do not miss your scheduled pacemaker appointment follow-up.
Medications
1. Take your preseribed medication and follow your doctors' instructions.
2. Do not take unprescribed medication, change your medication prescription or
timing of medications without your doctor's consent.
3. Bring your medication with you at every doctor's appointment and
pacemaker follow-up appointments.
10
Precautions with Etectrical Devices
1' You may comfo,*dy use common househo/d appriancessucn
as:
I Microwave oven
I Hair dryers
I Vacuum cleaners
! Shavers
y Television/radio
y Toaster/blenders
Avoid use of malfunctioning household
appliances.
2 Do not touch erectricar equipment with
open wire conditions.
3. Avoid crose contact with. generator,
werding equipment, transmitters
internal combustion engiries and
tnaiire running.
4' Maintain a minimum separation of 6 inches
(15 cm) between a hand herd
cellular phone and the pacerate, site.-
v MRt
I Lithotripsy
I Diathermy
V Externat Defibrillation
I Electrocautery
I lrradiation therapy
11
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