Posts Tagged ‘Pacemaker’

Pacemaker Implantation: How should I prepare?

Pacemaker insertion is done on both hospitalized and ambulatory patients. As an outpatient having this done electively you will first visit with the cardiologist in the office to go over the procedure and discuss the risks and alternatives. Since you will be asked to sign document of consent be sure to ask any question and raise any concern you may have. You will need to have basic blood work done and this can be drawn in the office. Unless instructed otherwise you should be fasting on the morning of the procedure. In general we want you to take your usual morning medications with the exception of any we’ve told you not to take (please talk to our nurses or schedulers if you have any questions about this). We do this procedure in the hospital at Midlands, Bergan, Mercy, Immanuel and Lakeside and you’ll receive specific instructions on where to show up and what time to be there. Related Links: Kent Gleed, MD www.alegent.com Alegent Health Heart & Vascular Specialists www.alegent.com Cardiology Blog www.alegent.com Alegent Health Podcast #27 Heart Palpitations www.alegent.com Alegent Health Clinic www.alegent.com

What is a pacemaker?

A pacemaker is a device, about the size of 4 stacked silver dollars, which is implanted under the skin and has wires (leads) that pass into the heart. It sends a very small electrical impulse through the leads into the muscle of the heart about once every second to stimulate contraction of the heart. Its main purpose is to make sure a person’s heart rate does not become too slow. Related Links: Joseph Thibodeau, MD www.alegent.com Alegent Health Heart & Vascular Specialists www.alegent.com Cardiology Blog www.alegent.com Alegent Health Podcast #27 Heart Palpitations www.alegent.com Alegent Health Clinic www.alegent.com

Pacemaker Implantation: How can you be sure it’s working?

A pacemaker is a device, about the size of 4 stacked silver dollars, which is implanted under the skin and has wires (leads) that pass into the heart. It sends a very small electrical impulse through the leads into the muscle of the heart about once every second to stimulate contraction of the heart. Its main purpose is to make sure a person’s heart rate does not become too slow. Related Links: Kent Gleed, MD www.alegent.com Alegent Health Heart & Vascular Specialists www.alegent.com Cardiology Blog www.alegent.com Alegent Health Podcast #27 Heart Palpitations www.alegent.com Alegent Health Clinic www.alegent.com

Pacemaker Implantation: What are the risks?

The risk of bleeding and bruising accompanies any invasive procedure. The risk of infection of the pacemaker site is about 1-4% nationally. Because the vein we use to gain access to the heart lies very near the lung there is the possibility of puncturing and collapsing the lung, necessitating the placement of a chest tube. Leads have been known to perforate the muscle in the heart and cause potentially life-threatening bleeding around the heart. These complications are uncommon and we can take measures to treat them when they arise. We take all these potential complications very seriously and take great precautions to avoid them. Related Links: Kent Gleed, MD www.alegent.com Alegent Health Heart & Vascular Specialists www.alegent.com Cardiology Blog www.alegent.com Alegent Health Podcast #27 Heart Palpitations www.alegent.com Alegent Health Clinic www.alegent.com