Video coming soon — Dr. Luni explains pacemaker in plain language
Who needs a pacemaker?
A pacemaker is recommended when the heart beats too slowly (bradycardia) or pauses for too long. Common reasons include complete heart block, sick sinus syndrome, and certain types of second-degree heart block. Symptoms that often prompt pacemaker evaluation include fainting, dizziness, extreme fatigue, and shortness of breath.
What happens during implantation?
- The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with sedation — you will be comfortable throughout
- A small incision is made just below the collarbone
- One or more thin flexible wires (leads) are guided through a vein into the heart
- The leads are connected to the pacemaker generator, which is placed in a small pocket under the skin
- The incision is closed — typically with dissolving sutures
- The procedure usually takes 30-60 minutes
Life with a pacemaker
Most patients notice a significant improvement in energy and quality of life within days of pacemaker implantation. Modern pacemakers are sophisticated devices that adapt to your activity level, speeding up during exercise and slowing down at rest.
- MRI-compatible pacemakers are now standard — most patients can have MRI scans
- Routine device checks are performed every 6-12 months
- Pacemakers do not prevent you from driving, traveling, or exercising
- The battery typically lasts 10-15 years, after which the generator is replaced (leads are usually kept)
- Most electronic devices — including cell phones — are safe around modern pacemakers
Types of pacemakers
- Single-chamber pacemaker: One lead in the right ventricle
- Dual-chamber pacemaker: Leads in both the right atrium and right ventricle — more physiologic
- CRT (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy): Three leads to coordinate the ventricles — used in heart failure
- Leadless pacemaker: A tiny device implanted directly inside the heart with no chest incision or leads
Dr. Luni implants the full range of pacemaker systems, including leadless pacemakers — the newest technology that eliminates the need for leads entirely.