Pacemaker for the first time was implanted in 1958 in Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. This operation was performed by doctor Ake Senning on the patient that was 43 years old and was in very bad condition. Operation was successful and patient after that was feeling well.
Pacemaker mechanisms that is today known worldwide is produced according to idea of doctor Rune Elmqvist, Siemens Elma.
If you have any questions you can call the Pulse Cardiology Center on 0117555000
What is pacemaker?
Pacemaker is kind of a “heart guide”, so called electrostimulator of the heart. In fact, it is a device that needs to be implanted in patients that suffer from significant low heart rate (bradycardia), and sometimes in case of disrupted heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
Low heart rate is happening from different reasons, for example, due to increased vagal tone when pulse is around 50 in minute. However, this is happening even in health individuals, but in these cases pacemaker is not implanted.
On the other hand, low heart rate (bradycardia) occurs in patients that have atherosclerosis and/or had a heart attack. In those patients in very small area, in so called system of implementation of stimuli a damage occurs. This phenomenon in some patients can be temporary, while in some it is permanent. Then implantation of pacemaker is solution because device completely removes bradycardia and thus heart pumps 70 beats per minute which is ideal number.
Because of this favorable method of pacemaker implantation today it has been applied very often and in the world there are large number of different systems of this device (different types of electrostimulator). Which type will be implanted in patient depends of disorder of the electrical heart system.
Pacemaker implantation
This procedure is done by implanting device large as a match box on the chest of the patient. From this device thin sonda is coming out whose peak is inserted through the upper vein up to the heart cavity, usually it is the right atrium.
Pacemaker function
Implanted pacemaker sends regular impulses through the sonda in the heart and imposes to the heart certain tempo, so the heart under the influence of the pacemaker beats approximate 70 beats per minute. Based on the place of the pacemaker in the heart, there are different types of this medical device. If the receiving of the signal is in the atrium itself, then we talk about of the pacemaker of A type. If the receiving of the signal is in the chamber of the heart, we talk about the second type of the device. So, division of the devices are based on the way that the device emits the signals.
There are special type of pacemaker device that is not turned on all the time, but turns on automatically only in moments when heart rhythm is disturbed (in case of arrhythmia).
Here, we can talk about certain convenience for the patients-there is no need to put patient under general anesthesia for the implanting of the pacemaker and introduction of the sonda (probe) in the heart, but this procedure can be performed in local anesthesia. It is comprehensible that the whole procedure must be performed under strict control of the specialist surgeon.
As pacemaker is implanted in patients that have certain heart abnormalities, sometimes happens that the implanted device recovers the heart in short period of time, so in such cases it can be removed. However, there are much more patients who must wear pacemaker for lifetime.
Living with a pacemaker
As in pacemaker there are special batteries that set the device in motion, and after sever years usually they need to be replaced. It is minor procedure for experienced cardio surgeon, but it must be performed in specialized clinical centers that have all necessary conditions for safety battery replacement.
Although pacemakers are very reliable, it is necessary for patients to create habit to check their pulse several times a day, and if they notice low heart rate (bradycardia), they should inform their doctor about that.
Slow heart rate in patients with a pacemaker may be due to implanted device, battery depletion, but may also be caused by some new changes in the heart. The real problem is going to descover by a doctor.
Thanks to a pacemaker, patients can live a completely normal life. This means that they can normally move, travel, drive a car. They can swim, have a normal sex life, but all this unless they have some special reasons, caused by a basic heart disease, that require some precautions and some special restrictions.
Patients who do not have any other health issues, with a pacemaker device, can even play sports.
All patients should be careful not to put pressure on the place where the appliance is installed with clothing or other objects.
As we can see, cardiovascular surgery contributes a lot in the treatment and normalization of the lives of heart patients.
