Pacemaker implant is becoming a very common phenomenon these days. Doctors generally recommend heart pacemaker implant to patients with slow heartbeats for a healthy heart with healthy heartbeats.
A heart pacemaker implant may also be done to treat fainting spells (syncope), congestive heart failure and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A pacemaker is nothing but an electronic device that has the capacity to send small electrical impulses to the heart muscle to maintain a suitable heart rate. It also stimulates the lower chambers of the heart known as ventricles.
There are two ways to implant pacemaker viz; single chamber pacemaker and dual chamber pacemaker. In the former type of pacemaker implant, one lead is used in the upper or lower chamber of the heart. Whereas in the heart pacemaker implant of the latter type one lead is used in the upper chamber and one lead in the lower chamber of the heart.
Well, here are a few precautions to be taken if your cardio-surgeon has advised for a pacemaker implant. As a patient of heart pacemaker implant, you should take care to inform the doctor about any kinds of medication you are taking. He/She may advise you to discontinue some, while monitor the use of some just before the pacemaker implant. Patients are generally advised not to eat, drink or chew anything after 12 midnight before the heart pacemaker implant. When brushing your teeth, do not swallow any water.
There are also some after effects that are common in the process that involves implant pacemaker. A patient that has just undergone
heart pacemaker implant may feel discomfort at the pacemaker implant site during the first 48 hours. Of course, the doctor would give you medications for pain relief. However, always inform your doctor or nurse if your symptoms are prolonged or severe after the pacemaker implant
