Pacemaker Implantation Surgery in Delhi, India

Overview

A pacemaker is a small, life-saving device consisting of two parts: a generator and wires, placed under the chest skin to regulate the heartbeat. Doctors recommend pacemakers for various reasons, primarily due to arrhythmias, where the heart rhythm is abnormal.

As we age, our hearts may beat more slowly. Heart attacks can damage heart muscles, disrupting the heartbeat, and certain medications or genetic factors can also cause abnormal heart rates. Regardless of the cause, a pacemaker helps correct the heartbeat.

What is a Pacemaker?

A pacemaker helps control your heartbeat. It can be temporarily implanted to treat a slow heartbeat after a heart attack, medication overdose, or surgery, or permanently to slow down the heartbeat or treat heart failure.

An implanted electronic pacemaker mimics your natural pacemaker. It includes two parts:

• Pulse Generator: Contains a battery and electrical circuitry that regulate the rate of electrical pulses sent to your heart.
• Leads (electrodes): Flexible, insulated wires placed in the heart chambers to deliver electrical pulses that adjust your heart rate.

Pacemakers monitor your heartbeat, slowing it down or speeding it up by sending electrical signals to your heart. They also have sensors that detect breathing rate or body motion, sending signals to ensure a balanced level of oxygen and blood.

Types of Pacemakers
There are three types of pacemakers:

Single Chamber Pacemaker: Carries electrical impulses from the pulse generator to the right ventricle of your heart.

• Dual Chamber Pacemaker: Carries electrical impulses to both the right atrium and right ventricle, coordinating the timing of contractions between the two chambers.
• Biventricular Pacemaker: Recommended for heart failure patients whose heart’s electrical systems need repair. It stimulates both lower chambers, improving heartbeat efficiency and is also known as cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Who Needs Pacemaker Implantation Surgery?

Pacemaker implantation may be necessary for individuals with:

• Sinus Syndrome: Age or heart disease damages the sinus node, causing slow or fluctuating heart rhythms.
• Post-Atrial Fibrillation: A pacemaker can regulate the heartbeat after arrhythmia treatment.
• Medication Effects: Certain medications, like beta-blockers, can excessively slow the heart.
• Frequent Fainting: Especially if the main artery in the neck, supplying blood to the brain, becomes sensitive to pressure.
• Muscle Problems: Affecting the travel of electrical signals through the heart muscle.
• Congenital Heart Diseases: Or post-heart transplant conditions.

Reasons for Pacemaker Implantation Surgery

• Tachycardia: Abnormally fast heartbeat.
• Bradycardia: Abnormally slow heartbeat.
• Heart Block: Irregular heartbeats due to unstable electrical signals.

Diagnosis Before Pacemaker Implantation Surgery

Various tests determine the need for pacemaker implantation:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG): Detects and records the electrical activity of the heart.
• Holter and Event Monitors: Records heart activity over 24-48 hours.
• Echocardiography: Utilizes sound waves to generate a moving image of the heart.
• Electrophysiology Study: Involves passing a wire through a vein to record heart signals.
• Stress Test: Monitors heart function under physical stress or medication-induced stress.

Pacemaker Implantation Procedure

Endocardial Approach

• Performed in an electrophysiology or pacemaker lab.
• Local anesthesia is administered, followed by an incision in the chest to insert the pacemaker and leads.
• The lead is guided to the heart via a vein using a fluoroscopy machine.
• The lead tip attaches to the heart muscle, and the other end is placed in a pocket under the upper chest skin.

Epicardial Approach

• Conducted in a surgical suite under general anesthesia.
• The surgeon attaches the lead tip to the heart muscle, with the other end placed in a pocket under the abdominal skin.
• Recovery is longer than the endocardial approach, but minimally invasive techniques allow shorter hospital stays and quicker recoveries.

After Pacemaker Implantation

• Electric blankets, microwave ovens, and heating pads are safe to use.
• Keep cell phones on the side opposite the pacemaker.
• Avoid strong electromagnetic fields, such as near power plants or electrical generators.
• Avoid tests involving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• A complete pacemaker check is required six weeks post-implantation. Adjustments are made based on recovery progress.

Conclusion

Pacemaker treatment, though minimally invasive, requires careful handling. Choose a reliable medical facility like Metro Hospitals, where experienced doctors and state-of-the-art equipment ensure seamless treatment.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Metro Hospital, India, today.