Pacer Gen Changeout
What You Need to Know:
The pacemaker generator sends electrical impulses to your heart. This makes your heart beat correctly. The generator also contains a battery. Your healthcare provider will replace your generator before the battery runs out. The generator may be replaced earlier if it stops working correctly. Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for the procedure. You may be told to not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your procedure. You will be advised as to what medicines to take or not take on the day of your procedure. Ask someone to drive you home from your procedure.
The Procedure
You may be given IV sedation to make you feel calm and relaxed during the procedure. You may also be given local anesthesia to numb the procedure area. With local anesthesia, you may still feel pressure or pushing, but you should not feel any pain.
Your healthcare provider will make an incision in your chest. Your old generator will be removed. The leads from the generator will be unplugged and inspected for damage. Your provider will connect the leads to the new generator. The new generator will be inserted through your incision. Your incision will be closed with stitches, medical glue or steri-strips. It will be covered with a bandage.
After Your Procedure
Your healthcare providers will monitor your heartbeat. They will also check your pacemaker with a machine to make sure it is working correctly. You may have bruising or pain near your incision. This should get better in a few days. .
Risks
Risks associated with pacemaker system implant include, but are not limited to, infection at the surgical site and/ or sensitivity to the device material, failure to deliver therapy when it is needed or receiving extra therapy when it is not needed.
After receiving an implantable pacemaker system, you will have limitations with respect to magnetic and electromagnetic fields, electric or gas-powered appliances and tools with which you are allowed to be in contact.
Benefits
By regulating the heart’s rhythm, a pacemaker can often eliminate the symptoms of bradycardia. This means individuals often have more energy and less shortness of breath. However, a pacemaker is not a cure. It will not prevent or stop heart disease, nor will it prevent heart attacks.
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