The cardiac pacemaker can identify irregularities in the heart rhythm and send its own electrical impulses in order to make the heart beat normally and exactly once again. The cardiac pacemaker generates or creates an electrical impulse. It is made up of computer chips and a small battery, all in a sealed box, with a long period of operation.
The cardiac pacemaker is implanted surgically in the superior part of the chest or in the abdomen. The impulse that it generates is transferred through special wires called electrodes (conductors) that are usually placed inside the heart. The electrodes also help the impulse generator feel the heart rhythm. This is very important because the device must send the impulse at the exact, adequate moment.
If you have a low or abnormal heart rhythm that causes fainting, dizziness, fatigue, difficul breathing (dyspnoea), palpitations or loss of consciousness, you might need a cardiac pacemaker. In many cases, a cardiac pacemaker can help the heart beat normally once again.
The cardiac pacemaker can "feel" the heart's rhythm. Pacemakers can be "programmed" to generate impulses or to wait for the heart to beat on its own. Certain cardiac pacemakers can feel the patient's activity - e.g. when the patient is climbing up the stairs or when s/he is working out - thus they are able to increase or decrease the heart rhythm.
After implanting the pacemaker into the body, its settings can be changed. The physicians and the clinicians communicate with the pacemaker through a programming device (programmer). This is a computer with a device (baton) that transfers signals throughout the body to the cardiac pacemaker. The procedure is painless. The software also displays the information about the heart that the pacemaker was able to collect.
The majority of people do not feel their pulse at all. The electrical impulse of a pacemaker is very small. If you feel the impulse, your physician or your clinician can change the settings in order for you to feel more comfortable.
Usually, the cardiac pacemaker operates between five and ten years. The operation period depends on the type of battery, on how often it sends impulses, on the patient's health status and on other factors.
The battery does not stop suddenly. It discharges gradually throughout several months. Usually the period is sufficient in order to be able to schedule a replacement. The physicians and the clinicians check the battery at every monitoring examination. When the battery level lowers, the cardiac pacemaker must be replaced and you will need to undergo another intervention.
Cardiac pacemakers do not represent a treatment for heart conditions. They do not treat the cause of low or irregular heart rhythms. However, since they can keep the heart pumping for years and years, pacemakers can improve very much the quality of life of the patients suffering from arrhythmia.
The cardiac pacemaker improves the heart's capacity to pump regularly and in time. Some people are entirely dependent on pacemakers to make their hearts beat. For most of the patients, the symptoms of dizziness, vertigo and fainting disappear. Some patients feel that they have more energy. The cardiac pacemaker can also give the patient the feeling of "peace of mind", because they feel safer with the cardiac pacemaker keeping their heart operating.
A small number of patients develop complications as a result of the implantation of a cardiac pacemaker and of the electrodes present in their bodies. Such complications include infections, reactions to certain medicines used during surgery, blood loss or deterioration of a blood vein, of the heart wall or of other organs. Such complications can usually be corrected or healed. After surgery you might feel a slight discomfort or fatigue, but it passes quickly. Nevertheless, some patients continue to feel some discomfort in the area where the pacemaker was implanted.
Modern pacemakers have many safety characteristics. Sometimes, the pacemaker might not operate adequately because it is affected by external sources of electromagnetic energy. It is also possible for the top of the electrode to have changed inside the heart and thus, the impulse does no longer have any effect. Rarely, the device can get out of the chest "pocket".
And finally, please bear in mind that these devices are made by human beings. It is very important to monitor these devices regularly, during monitoring examinations, as often as the physician recommends it.
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