The cardiology exams

THE IMPLANTATION OF A PACEMAKER
(and of an AUTOMATIC IMPLANTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR)

- A few explanations
- Mode and principle of the cardiac stimulation
- Implantation of the cardiac pacemaker
- Possible complications
- Your cardiac pacemaker carrier's follow-up
- What can cause your cardiac pacemaker to malfunction

IMPLANTATION OF THE CARDIAC PACEMAKER

The cardiac stimulation device is constituted of a case, placed under the skin, outside of the heart, and of electric probes placed in the heart througha vein, and bound to the case.

- A trained operator, in an adapted structure, which means not far from a cardiology intensive care unit, generally achieves the implantation.

- As the implanted material constitutes a foreign body, the physician must be very prudent in order to not to infect it;

- Before implanting the pacemaker, a few biologic exams and an x-ray of the lung will be achieved. The area which is going to be incised (between the shoulder and the neck) is shaved; the skin is ridded of all impurities and is painted with an antiseptic product.

- After administration of sedative medicines by i.v., the patient is then laid down on a table, then an operative field is put in place, covering up the patient completely and letting only appear the area, which must be incised.

- A local anaesthesia is then achieved at the level of the area through which the probes are going to be introduced and the case put in place. The general anaesthesia is rarely necessary and especially applies to the agitated or very anguished patients.

- The venous access and the site of implantation.

The physician achieves a sufficiently large incision so that the stimulation case can be put in place in a second time.

Incision by the physician under the clavicle and
implementation of a chamber above the pectoral muscle.

Setting up the probes into the heart, through a vein,
situated under the clavicle (the subclavian vein).

The electric probes will be introduced by puncturing a vein localized under the clavicle or in the area of the neck. The physician places the probes into the cavities of the heart while using an x-ray device, and then fixes them on. Once the probes in place, he controls their functioning with the help of a special device.

Then, he joins the probes to the cardiac pacemaker case and controls the good functioning of the pacemaker by carrying out an electrocardiogram.

Before you leave the hospital, the physician who implanted the cardiac pacemaker must produce you a cardiac pacemaker carrier card, which you must keep on yourselves.

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File last modified on june 9, 2006