What is a Pacemaker
Types heart function is to pump the blood to carry oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. This pumping process occurs regularly between 60 to 100 times per minute as the heart has special cells that produce an electrical stimulus that gets the heart chambers.
The heart’s electrical system comprises a pulse generator located in the right atrium and a conductive system that transmits the drive to the right atrium and also in the left side, as well as the ventricles. If there is a problem in this system will cause a heart rhythm disorder that can compromise the patient’s life.
A pacemaker is a small electronic device that helps fix any problems in heart rate. The pacemaker using a battery generates electrical impulses that stimulate the cardiac chambers. It has a generator that is connected via electrodes to the walls of the heart.
Pacemakers: the operation
The generator is the size of a matchbox, this is composed of electronic circuits and battery. This is placed under the skin of the chest below the collarbone. The electrodes are inserted into the cardiac chambers through the veins near and implanted with radiological control.
When you insert the pacemaker, the patient is awake to communicate with the doctor and only local anesthesia is required in the area of the incision. After the operation the patient should stay in bed until the next day. At 24 hours there will be a chest film and a review for the first time the function of the device.
Bleeding complications or lung during implantation and if they are resolved easily. The chances of infection are low but involve the removal of the generator and electrodes, and its replacement by a more complex procedure.
Types of pacemakers
There are several types of pacemakers and reviewed externally, by a programmer that provides performance information, and thus to calibrate the values and battery status.
The person who has a pacemaker can do sports, avoiding those that require excessive weight bearing on the arm closest to the set and you should avoid the displacement of the electrodes or contact sports where they could strike and damage the generator .
The pacemaker senses the heart rate and stimulates only when there is a bug in it. This keeps the pacing tailored to the patient’s need and save the battery. The impulses from the pacemaker did not feel the patient.