I don't want to take a chance that something could go wrong during surgery. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision.
Show which way you are leaning right now. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff.
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It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Get the facts. Your options Get a pacemaker. Don't get a pacemaker. Key points to remember A pacemaker can help you feel better so you can return to your daily activities. A pacemaker sends electrical pulses to your heart to help it work better. You can't feel the pulses. If you get a pacemaker, you may still need to take medicines.
You'll also need to follow a healthy lifestyle to help your heart. Eat heart-healthy foods, and don't smoke. Heart experts have guidelines about who might need a pacemaker. Talk to your doctor about the reasons that you might need one. For example, a pacemaker may be a good choice if your heart rate is very slow and you have symptoms like dizziness or fainting. There can be problems from the procedure to implant a pacemaker.
You could get an infection where the pacemaker was placed. Most pacemakers have wires called leads that connect the pacemaker to your heart. These wires can move from the spot where they were placed. Or the pacemaker or leads might not work. What is a pacemaker? What heart rate problems can a pacemaker help? These problems include: Changes in the heart that are the result of aging.
Coronary artery disease. Heart attack. Heart block such as an AV block , which is an abnormality in the way electricity passes through the heart's normal electrical pathways.
How is a pacemaker placed? Most pacemakers are surgically implanted under the skin of the chest. What are the risks? Examples include: A lung could collapse pneumothorax. This happens if air builds up in the space between the lung and the chest wall. But a pneumothorax can be treated and people recover well.
This problem may happen about 1 to 5 times out of a Or a person might need emergency medicine or surgery. Based on rates of complications from patients, these problems happen about 1 time out of So about 99 times out of , these problems do not happen. Problems include: Pain, bleeding, or bruising soon after the procedure.
Blood clots in your arms, which cause a lot of swelling. Infection in your chest near the pacemaker. An infection might happen about 1 time out of This means that about 99 times out of there is no infection. For example, this might happen if a pacemaker lead breaks or a lead moves out of place. Why might your doctor recommend a pacemaker for a heart rate problem? Your doctor might recommend that you get a pacemaker if: You have trouble doing everyday activities, or you can't do them at all.
You have health problems that increase your chances of having heartbeat problems. Compare your options. Compare Option 1 Get a pacemaker Don't get a pacemaker. Compare Option 2 Get a pacemaker Don't get a pacemaker. Get a pacemaker Get a pacemaker You will have minor surgery or a procedure to have the pacemaker put in.
The doctor will numb the area so you won't feel pain. You may spend the night in the hospital to make sure that the device is working and that there are no problems.
You will need regular checkups to make sure that the pacemaker is working and to adjust the pacing, if needed. You may still need to take medicines for your heart rate problem. You still have to eat healthy foods and to exercise as your doctor advises. A pacemaker can help you feel better so you can be more active.
If you have a certain type of heart block, a pacemaker may help prevent a dangerously slow heart rate and may help you live longer. Problems can happen during the procedure to place the pacemaker or soon after the procedure. One example is a lung collapsing. There might be problems with the pacemaker. The procedure usually takes between 1 and 2 hours, but it can take longer if you're having other heart surgery at the same time. In most cases, implantable cardioverter defibrillators ICDs are fitted transvenously, along a vein.
But they can also be fitted under the skin subcutaneously. Subcutaneous implantation is either carried out using general anaesthesia , or with local anaesthesia and sedation. During the procedure, a pocket will be created in the left side of the chest where the ICD will be positioned.
The pacing lead and electrodes are also placed under the skin along the breast bone and are connected to the device. After the cuts have been closed, the sensing, pacing and recording functions of the ICD will be tested and adjusted. Once the leads are in place, but before they're connected to the pacemaker or ICD, the cardiologist will test them to make sure they work properly and can increase your heart rate.
This is called pacing. Small amounts of energy are delivered through the leads into the heart, which cause it to contract and pull inwards. When the leads are being tested, you may feel your heart beat faster. Tell the medical team about any symptoms you feel.
Your doctor will adjust the settings of your pacemaker after deciding how much electrical energy is needed to stimulate your heartbeat. If it's needed to treat a potentially serious condition, such as severe heart block or cardiac arrest, surgery is often performed as an emergency. If the reason for surgery isn't thought to be life threatening, you may have to wait up to 18 weeks. In most cases, surgery is carried out as soon as possible once it's been decided that you would benefit from a pacemaker.
Read more about NHS waiting times. Page last reviewed: 15 October Next review due: 15 October Before having a pacemaker fitted, you'll have a preoperative assessment. You'll be asked about your general health and heart problems, and how they affect you. People with heart rhythm problems — even if they are otherwise healthy — can benefit greatly from pacemakers.
To find out if your symptoms might indicate the need for a pacemaker, visit us at the Vein, Heart and Vascular Institute.
Led by Hesham Fakhri, MD, we provide comprehensive cardiovascular care. People get pacemakers for a variety of reasons, but the overarching reason for a pacemaker is an abnormal heart rhythm, which can be a condition in and of itself or an outcome of a primary condition. At Vein, Heart and Vascular Institute, we may prescribe a pacemaker if you:. Even though pacemakers are a big deal — after all, they can prevent heart failure — getting a pacemaker is not often top of mind, even when cardiovascular symptoms arise.
But if you know the symptoms of abnormal heart rhythm and other heart conditions, you can look out for signs that may indicate you need a pacemaker, such as:. You may also need a pacemaker if you take medications that slow your heart rate.
You should also let your other health care providers, including your dentist and primary care physician, know that you have a pacemaker. Certain medical procedures, such as MRIs , can disrupt your pacemaker.
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