The heart pacemaker is a fairly miniature device that, by sending electrical pulses, supports the normal contraction of an important organ in order to provide the necessary vital activity of the body. The power source of the pacemaker is lithium batteries. In the design of the generator of electrical impulses, a monitoring system and electrocardiographic sensors are provided that track the heart rhythm.
When they put a pacemaker?
Indications for the installation of a pacemaker are:
- all types of bradycardia , when the frequency of heartbeats is less than 60 per minute;
- atrioventricular blockades.
There are practically no contraindications to the implantation of a pacemaker, but there are a number of factors that increase the risk of complications, among them:
- bleeding disorders ;
- overweight;
- smoking and excessive alcohol consumption;
- regular intake of individual medications.
The operation for the installation of a pacemaker
Preparation for the operation includes:
- blood tests;
- Chest x-ray;
- removal of the electrocardiogram.
Implantation of the pacemaker is performed with local anesthesia, when with the help of injections, only the operated area is anaesthetized. The surgeon makes a cut through the clavicle through which the device is inserted. Small wiring leads to the heart muscle through a vein located under the clavicle. Operation time is about 2 hours.
Rehabilitation after the installation of a pacemaker
After the operation, pain can be felt. The doctor prescribes pain medications to reduce painful sensations. The pacemaker is tuned to suit the individual needs of stimulation of the heart muscle. The specialist necessarily instructs the patient in detail about possible complications and how to ensure a rapid recovery from the operation. As a rule, for normal rehabilitation it is required to follow the following rules:
- To return to a habitual way of life it is possible 2 weeks after implantation.
- To get behind a wheel of a car it is authorized not earlier than in 1 week after an extract from a hospital.
- For 6 weeks, significant physical exertion should be avoided.
For later life with an implanted pacemaker, you should avoid interacting with:
- radio and television transmitters;
- high-voltage equipment;
- radar installations.
You can not undergo treatment and examination procedures, such as:
- Magnetic resonance imaging;
- Thermal physiotherapy.
Also, doctors do not recommend wearing a mobile phone in a pocket located in the heart area. It is undesirable to use the MP3 player and headphones. Care should be taken to pass through the security detector at the airport and similar locations. In order not to be exposed to a dangerous procedure for health, you must carry a card of the owner of the device. On the presence of a pacemaker it is necessary to warn a doctor of any specialty,
How many live with a heart pacemaker?
For those who are recommended to install the device, this question is particularly significant. As medical practice shows, if the recommendations of the doctor are observed, patients with an implant in the heart live as much as other people live, that is, it can be stated with certainty: the pacemaker has no effect on life expectancy.