How many pacemakers can you have

Notify your doctor if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any anticoagulant blood-thinning medications, aspirin, or other medications that affect blood clotting. It may be necessary for you to stop some of these medications prior to the procedure. Your doctor may request a blood test prior to the procedure to determine how long it takes your blood to clot. Other blood tests may be done as well. You may receive a sedative prior to the procedure to help you relax.

If a sedative is given and there is a possibility that you may be discharged, you will need someone to drive you home. You will likely spend at least one night in the hospital after the procedure for observation and to ensure the pacemaker functions properly.

A pacemaker may be performed on an outpatient basis or as part of your stay in a hospital. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your doctor's practices.

You will be asked to remove any jewelry or other objects that may interfere with the procedure. An intravenous IV line will be started in your hand or arm prior to the procedure for injection of medication and to administer IV fluids, if needed. You will be connected to an electrocardiogram ECG or EKG monitor that records the electrical activity of the heart and monitors the heart during the procedure using small, adhesive electrodes. Your vital signs heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and oxygenation level will be monitored during the procedure.

You will receive a sedative medication in your IV before the procedure to help you relax. However, you will likely remain awake during the procedure. Once the anesthetic has taken effect, the physician will make a small incision at the insertion site. A sheath, or introducer, is inserted into a blood vessel, usually under the collarbone.

The sheath is a plastic tube through which the pacer lead wire will be inserted into the blood vessel and advanced into the heart. It will be very important for you to remain still during the procedure so that the catheter does not move out of place and to prevent damage to the insertion site. The lead wire will be inserted through the introducer into the blood vessel. The doctor will advance the lead wire through the blood vessel into the heart. Once the lead wire is inside the heart, it will be tested to verify proper location and that it works.

There may be one, two, or three lead wires inserted, depending on the type of device your doctor has chosen for your condition.

Fluoroscopy, a special type of X-ray that will be displayed on a TV monitor , may be used to assist in testing the location of the leads. The pacemaker generator will be slipped under the skin through the incision just below the collarbone after the lead wire is attached to the generator. Generally, the generator will be placed on the nondominant side.

If you are right-handed, the device will be placed in your upper left chest. If you are left-handed, the device will be placed in your upper right chest. After the procedure, you may be taken to the recovery room for observation or returned to your hospital room. A nurse will monitor your vital signs. You should immediately inform your nurse if you feel any chest pain or tightness, or any other pain at the incision site.

After the period of bed rest has been completed, you may get out of bed with assistance. The nurse will assist you the first time you get up, and will check your blood pressure while you are lying in bed, sitting, and standing. You should move slowly when getting up from the bed to avoid any dizziness from the period of bedrest. Your doctor will visit with you in your room while you are recovering. The doctor will give you specific instructions and answer any questions you may have. Once your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing are stable and you are alert, you will be taken to your hospital room or discharged home.

If the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, you may be allowed to leave after you have completed the recovery process. However, it is common to spend at least one night in the hospital after pacemaker implantation for observation. You should be able to return to your daily routine within a few days. Your doctor will tell you if you will need to take more time in returning to your normal activities. Page last reviewed: 15 October Next review due: 15 October How a pacemaker works A pacemaker is a small device about the size of a matchbox or smaller that weighs 20 to 50g.

If it senses that your heart is beating normally by itself, it doesn't send out any signals. Most pacemakers have a special sensor that recognises body movement or your breathing rate.

Some devices contain both a pacemaker and an ICD. This often helps return the heart to a normal rhythm. A conventional ICD has a pacing lead that's implanted along a vein transvenously. Why do I need a pacemaker? The heart is essentially a pump made of muscle, which is controlled by electrical signals. These signals can become disrupted for several reasons, which can lead to a number of potentially dangerous heart conditions, such as: an abnormally slow heartbeat bradycardia an abnormally fast heartbeat tachycardia heart block where your heart beats irregularly because the electrical signals that control your heartbeat aren't transmitted properly cardiac arrest when a problem with the heart's electrical signals cause the heart to stop beating altogether Read more about why you might need a pacemaker.

How is a pacemaker fitted? Having a pacemaker implanted is a relatively straightforward process. The generator is attached to a wire that's guided through a blood vessel to the heart. After pacemaker surgery You should be able to return to normal physical activities soon after surgery. After this, you should be able to do most activities and sports. Using electrical equipment Anything that produces a strong electromagnetic field, like an induction hob, can interfere with a pacemaker.

The heart's natural pacemaker — the sinus node — produces electrical signals that prompt your heart to beat. The heart is a muscular, fist-sized pump with four chambers, two on the left side and two on the right. The upper chambers right and left atria and the lower chambers right and left ventricles work with your heart's electrical system to keep your heart beating at an appropriate rate — usually 60 to beats a minute for adults at rest. Your heart's electrical system controls your heartbeat, beginning in a group of cells at the top of the heart sinus node and spreading to the bottom, causing it to contract and pump blood.

Aging, heart muscle damage from a heart attack, some medications and certain genetic conditions can cause an abnormal heart rhythm. A pacemaker is a device used to control an abnormal heart rhythm. Depending on your condition, you may have a pacemaker with 1 to 3 flexible, insulated wires leads placed in one or more chambers of your heart. These wires deliver the electrical pulses to adjust your heart rate. However, some newer pacemakers don't require leads.

Pacemakers work only when needed. If your heartbeat is too slow bradycardia , the pacemaker sends electrical signals to your heart to correct the beat. Some newer pacemakers also have sensors that detect body motion or breathing rate and signal the devices to increase heart rate during exercise, as needed. Complications related to pacemaker surgery or having a pacemaker are uncommon, but could include:.

Before your doctor decides if you need a pacemaker, you'll have several tests done to find the cause of your irregular heartbeat. Tests done before you get a pacemaker could include:. You'll likely be awake during the surgery to implant the pacemaker, which typically takes a few hours. A specialist will insert an IV into your forearm or hand and give you a medication called a sedative to help you relax.

Your chest is cleaned with special soap. Most pacemaker implantations are done using local anesthesia to numb the area of the incisions. However, the amount of sedation needed for the procedure depends on your specific health conditions. You may be fully awake or lightly sedated, or you may be given general anesthesia fully asleep.

One or more wires are inserted into a major vein under or near your collarbone and guided to your heart using X-ray images. One end of each wire is secured at the appropriate position in your heart, while the other end is attached to the pulse generator, which is usually implanted under the skin beneath your collarbone.

A leadless pacemaker is smaller and typically requires a less invasive surgery to implant the device. The pulse generator and other pacemaker parts are contained in a single capsule. The doctor inserts a flexible sheath catheter in a vein in the groin and then guides the single component pacemaker through the catheter to the proper position in the heart. The leads are connected to the generator. The skin is closed with stitches.

Most people go home within 1 day of the procedure. Pacemakers may be used for people who have heart problems that cause their heart to beat too slowly. A slow heartbeat is called bradycardia. Two common problems that cause a slow heartbeat are sinus node disease and heart block. Some pacemakers can be used to stop a heart rate that is too fast tachycardia or that is irregular. Other types of pacemakers can be used in severe heart failure. These are called biventricular pacemakers.

They help coordinate the beating of the heart chambers. Most biventricular pacemakers implanted today can also work as implantable cardioverter defibrillators ICD. ICD restore a normal heartbeat by delivering a larger shock when a potentially deadly fast heart rhythm occurs. A pacemaker senses if the heartbeat is above a certain rate. When it is above that rate, the pacemaker will stop sending signals to the heart. The pacemaker can also sense when the heartbeat slows down too much.

It will automatically start pacing the heart again. Always tell your health care provider about all the drugs you are taking, even drugs or herbs you bought without a prescription. You will probably be able to go home after 1 day or even the same day in some cases.

You should be able to return to your normal activity level quickly.