Pacemaker

The heart is an electrical organ and has its own time keeper known as the sinus node which controls the rate at which the heart beats.  The sinus node is an area of specialised cells which are located in the upper right chamber of the heart (right atrium).  A signal from the sinus node is transmitted down to the middle of the heart where it is held up like traffic at a roundabout in an area known as the atrioventricular node (AV) node.  After a short delay the signal passes down a super highway of fast conduction called the His –Purkinje system rather like motorways to the lower chambers of the heart (right and left ventricles ventricles).  This electrical pathway coordinates the pumping sequence of the heart chambers ensuring blood flows correctly.   

Pacemakers are artificial devices placed inside the body to help maintain an appropriate heart rate when the natural pacemaker of the heart fails or the electrical pathways of the heart become faulty akin to the electrical wiring in older houses. 

A pacemaker consists of a battery with electronic circuits and requires leads which are attached to the inner surface of the right side of the heart.   The leads are placed inside the heart through veins underneath your collar bone usually on the left hand side (most people are right handed) and guided into position using x-ray.    After the leads are secured with stitches they are attached to the pacemaker and placed in a pocket made underneath the skin.  The skin is sewn up and the skin can be sealed with adhesive, therefore there are usually no stitches to remove.  The procedure is carried out as a day case and undertaken using local anaesthetic and sedation.   (link to slide 2)

All pacemakers implanted at the Wiltshire Cardiac Centre can be remotely monitored using a device connected to your phone line and that means we can pick up any problems early.  You will have a check arranged two weeks after you go home in the pacemaker clinic. 

When can I drive after a pacemaker implant?

You may be a bit sore for a few days, but you should be able drive after the pacemaker check in two weeks. 

How long do the batteries last?

The batteries can last 8-10 years but that can vary depending on how much you need to use the pacemaker.  Regular monitoring of your device means that we are alerted well before there is any danger of the battery running out completely.