Pacemaker Implantation
Pacemaker implantation is a procedure to put a small battery-operated device called a pacemaker into your chest. The pacemaker sends regular electrical impulses, which help keep your heart beating regularly.
Having a pacemaker fitted is one of the most common types of heart procedures.
How does a pacemaker work?
The pacemaker is a small metal box weighing 20–50g. It is attached to one or more wires, known as pacing leads, that run to your heart.
The pacemaker contains:
- a battery, which usually lasts from 8 to 10 years depending on how advanced the device is (pacemakers that are more advanced tend to use more energy so have a shorter battery life)
- an impulse generator
- a tiny computer circuit that converts energy from the battery into electrical impulses, which flow down the wires and stimulate your heart to contract
The rate at which these electrical pulses are sent out is called the discharge rate.
Almost all modern pacemakers work on demand. This means that they can be programmed to adjust the discharge rate in response to your body’s needs. If the pacemaker senses that your heart has missed a beat or is beating too slowly, it sends signals at a steady rate. If it senses that your heart is beating normally by itself, it does not send out any signals.
Most pacemakers have a special sensor that recognises body movement or your breathing rate. This allows them to speed up the discharge rate when you are active. Doctors describe this as rate responsive.
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:
- damage to part of the electrical circuit called the sinus node – which can cause an abnormally slow heartbeat (bradycardia), an abnormally fast heartbeat (supraventricular tachycardia), or sometimes a combination of both
- heart block – when your heart beats irregularly because the electrical signals that control your heartbeat are not transmitted properly
- cardiac arrest – when the heart stops pumping blood around your body
