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Saturday 27 August 2016

Basics Relating To Pacemaker You Should Be Aware Of

By Laura Fox


The normal heart is controlled by electrical discharge originating from an area known as the sinoatrial node. The discharge flows from the atria to the ventricles and culminates in ventricular contraction. The contraction pumps blood to the large arteries and the cycle starts all over again. In some cases, the node is not discharging normally resulting into abnormal rate and rhythm. An artificial pacemaker will be needed in such a case to restore normalcy.

The primary role of these devices in Princeton, NJ is to normalize the heart rate and rhythm. There are a number of secondary benefits as well. Fainting episodes in persons with heart disease are often treated in this manner. Such episodes result when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. Other common indications include congestive heart failure (in cardiac re-synchronization therapy) and heart muscle disease (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).

The decision to have surgery is usually made by the heart specialist after a thorough evaluation. This evaluation includes the taking of a medical history, conducting a physical examination and requesting for some investigations. Those that are most informative include the echocardiogram and the electrocardiogram. Once you have met the required criteria, you will be advised on the foods and drugs to be avoided during the preparation stage.

The procedure used to insert the pacer is fairly simple. Local or general anesthesia are usually used for the management of pain. Once the anesthesia has been administered, a small cut is made on an area on the shoulder to be used for the insertion. Once in place, leads are directed to the heart under the guidance of an instrument known as a fluoroscope. The entire surgery takes an average of thirty to ninety minutes.

Although the operation is considered a day case in most centers, you may have to be admitted overnight. This provides an opportunity for the heart rate and rhythm to be monitored. The frequency may have to be adjusted if the rate is either too high or too low. There are a number of complications that may ensue after the operation. They include bleeding, abnormal heart rhythms, infections and more rarely, puncture of the lung or the heart.

Patients should have regular medical checkups. This are meant to help determine if the device is in proper working condition. The first full checkup should be done six weeks after the surgery. Unless complications have been encountered, subsequent checkups are then done after every six months. During the evaluation, a number of parameters have to be assessed. They include the threshold, the lead integrity and pacer sensing ability.

There is no need to change your lifestyle even after placement of the device. However, there are a number of precautions that should be undertaken. For instance, you should avoid taking part in full contact sports as well as any activities in which they are likely to come into contact with strong magnetic fields. There may be a need for antibiotics when some medical conditions are being conducted to prevent infection of the device.

Patients with the device need to carry around identification cards. The cards carry important information such as their primary symptom, the cause of their condition and the electrocardiogram tracing. Other important information include the pacer center, date of manufacture, the model and the lead type. The card makes it possible for treatment to be provided even if the patient visits a different facility.




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