Pacemaker

Overview

A pacemaker is a small, battery-powered device that prevents the heart from beating too slowly. You need surgery to get a pacemaker. The device is placed under the skin near the collarbone.

A pacemaker also is called a cardiac pacing device.

There are different types of pacemakers.

Single chamber pacemaker. This type usually sends electrical signals to the lower right chamber of the heart.
Dual chamber pacemaker. This type sends electrical signals to the upper and lower right heart chambers.
Biventricular pacemaker. This type also is called a cardiac resynchronization pacemaker. It's for people who have heart failure and a slow heartbeat. The device stimulates both lower heart chambers. It helps make the heart muscle stronger.

Why it's done

A pacemaker is used to control or increase the heartbeat. It stimulates the heart as needed to keep it beating regularly.

The heart's electrical system typically controls the heartbeat. Electrical signals, called impulses, move through the heart chambers. They tell the heart when to beat.

Changes in heart signaling may happen if the heart muscle is damaged. Heart signaling problems also may be caused by changes in genes before birth or by using certain medicines.

You may need a pacemaker if:

You have a slow or irregular heartbeat that lasts for a long time, also called chronic.
You have heart failure.

A pacemaker only works when it senses trouble with the heartbeat. For example, if the heart beats too slowly, the pacemaker sends electrical signals to correct the beat.

Some pacemakers can increase the heartbeat as needed, such as during exercise.

A pacemaker may have two parts:

Pulse generator. This small metal box has a battery and electrical parts. It controls the rate of electrical signals sent to the heart.
Leads. These are flexible, insulated wires. One to three wires are placed in one or more of the heart's chambers. The wires send the electrical signals needed to correct an irregular heartbeat. Some newer pacemakers don't need leads. These devices are called leadless pacemakers.

Risks

Possible complications of a pacemaker device or its surgery may include:

Infection near the site in the heart where the device is placed.
Swelling, bruising or bleeding, especially if you take blood thinners.
Blood clots near where the device is placed.
Damage to blood vessels or nerves.
Collapsed lung.
Blood in the space between the lung and the chest wall.
Moving or shifting of the device or leads, which could cause a hole in the heart. This complication is rare.

How you prepare

Several tests are done to determine if a pacemaker is right for you. These tests may include:

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This quick and painless test checks the heart's electrical activity. An ECG shows how the heart is beating. Some personal devices, such as smartwatches, can check the heartbeat. Ask a member of your health care team if this is an option for you.
Holter monitor. This portable device is worn for a day or more to record the heart's rate and rhythm during daily activities. It may be done if an ECG doesn't provide enough details about a heart problem. A Holter monitor may be able to see irregular heart rhythms that an ECG missed.
Echocardiogram. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create pictures of the beating heart. It shows how blood flows through the heart and heart valves.
Stress or exercise tests. These tests often involve walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while the heart's rate and rhythm are watched. Exercise tests show how the heart responds to physical activity. Sometimes, a stress test is done with other imaging tests, such as an echocardiogram.

What you can expect

Before the procedure

Surgery is needed to place a pacemaker in the body. The surgery usually takes a few hours.

Your chest is cleaned with a special soap. A member of your health care team puts an IV into your forearm or hand. Medicine called a sedative goes through the IV. It helps you relax.

Usually, medicine is used to numb the skin where the pacemaker will be inserted. This medicine is called local anesthesia. During the pacemaker surgery, you may be fully awake or lightly sedated.

During the procedure

To place a pacemaker, a doctor inserts one or more wires into a major vein under or near the collarbone. The doctor uses X-ray images to guide the wires to the heart. One end of each wire attaches to the proper area in the heart. The other end connects to the part of the pacemaker that delivers electrical pulses. That part is called a pulse generator. It usually is placed under the skin beneath the collarbone.

A leadless pacemaker is smaller. All the parts are inside a single unit. It's placed into the heart using a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. The doctor inserts the tube into a blood vessel, usually in the groin. The leadless pacemaker goes through the tube. It's guided to the proper area in the heart.

After the procedure

You may stay in the hospital for a day after getting a pacemaker. The device is programmed to fit your heart rhythm needs before you leave. Make plans to have someone drive you home from the hospital.

For the first month after getting a pacemaker, you may be told not to do any heavy lifting or exercise that uses a lot of energy. Do not put pressure on the area where the pacemaker was placed. Your health care team tells you what medicines you safely can take if you have pain.

Special precautions

A pacemaker doesn't usually stop working because of electrical interference. But it's a good idea to follow a few safety tips if you have a pacemaker.

Mobile phones. It's safe to talk on a mobile phone. But keep the phone at least 6 inches (15 centimeters) away from your pacemaker. Don't keep your phone in a shirt pocket. When talking on your phone, hold it to the ear opposite the side where your pacemaker was placed.
Security systems. Passing through an airport metal detector won't interfere with a pacemaker. But the metal in the pacemaker could sound the alarm. Do not stay too long near a metal-detection system. Carry an ID card that says you have a pacemaker.
Medical equipment. Tell all of your health care team members, including dentists, that you have a pacemaker. Some imaging tests and treatments may interfere with the device. These tests and treatments include MRI or CT scans, radiation therapy for cancer, the use of an electric current to control bleeding during surgery, and sound wave therapy to break up large kidney stones or gallstones.
Power-generating equipment. Stand at least 2 feet (61 centimeters) from welding equipment, high-voltage transformers or motor-generator systems. If you work around such equipment, ask your health care team if a safety test can be done at your workplace. The test can check whether the equipment affects your pacemaker.

Devices that are not likely to interfere with a pacemaker include:

Electric blankets.
Electric razors.
Microwave ovens.
Personal computers.
Radios.
Televisions and remote controls.
Toasters.

Results

A pacemaker should improve symptoms caused by a slow heartbeat, such as extreme tiredness, lightheadedness and fainting. Most modern pacemakers automatically change the speed of the heartbeat to match the level of physical activity. A pacemaker may let you have a more active lifestyle.

Regular health checkups are recommended after getting a pacemaker. Ask your health care team how often you need to go into a medical office for such checkups. Tell your health care team if you gain weight, if your legs or ankles get puffy, or if you faint or get dizzy.

A health care professional should check your pacemaker every 3 to 6 months. Most pacemakers can be checked remotely. This means you don't have to go into a medical office for the checkup. A pacemaker sends information about the device and your heart electronically to your doctor's office.

A pacemaker's battery typically lasts 5 to 15 years. When the battery stops working, you'll need surgery to replace it. The surgery to change a pacemaker's battery is often quicker than the first surgery to place the device. You also should have a quicker recovery.

Pacemakers and end-of-life issues

If you have a pacemaker and become sick with a life-threatening condition that can't be cured, it's possible the device could make you live longer. There are mixed opinions about turning off a pacemaker in end-of-life situations.

Talk to your health care team if you have a pacemaker and are concerned about turning it off. You also may want to talk to your family or caregivers about what you'd like to do in an end-of-life situation. You might want to write your end-of-life wishes in an advanced directive. This is a legal document that tells your family and health care team what to do if you can't communicate.