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A pacemaker is a small device that sends electrical pulses to your heart to help it beat at a normal rate and rhythm. It is used if you have an abnormal heart rhythm, called an arrhythmia, that beats too slowly, too quickly, or irregularly. It can also help your heart chambers beat in sync so that your heart can pump blood more efficiently to your body if you have heart failure.
Pacemakers are matchbox sized and weigh about 20 to 50 grams. They consist of a box that generates pulses and one, two, or three electrode leads that deliver electrical impulses to and from your heart, contained in a metal case.
The type of pacemaker you have will depend on your condition. Pacemakers with one lead are called single-chamber pacemakers and carry electrical impulses to the right ventricle of your heart. Those with two leads are dual-chamber pacemakers. They carry electrical impulses to the right ventricle and the right atrium of your heart and help to control the timing of contractions between the two chambers. Devices with three leads are called bi-ventricular or cardiac resynchronisation therapy pacemakers and are used if you have heart failure or heartbeat problems. They stimulate your right and left lower heart chambers to work together in a coordinated way and make your heart beat more efficiently.
Most pacemakers are rate responsive. This means that they work on demand and are programmed to adjust their electrical impulse rate in response to your body's needs. So, if your pacemaker senses that your heart has missed a beat or it is beating too slowly, it sends signals at a steady rate. It does not send out any signals if it senses that your heart is beating normally by itself. Pacemakers usually have a sensor that recognises your body movement or your breathing rate and they can speed up the impulses when you are active.
A pacemaker is implanted to help control your heartbeat and treat heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) and related conditions including:
A pacemaker is fitted by a surgical procedure that takes around one hour. It can take longer if for example, you are having a bi-ventricular pacemaker. Most people go home within a day of their procedure.
There are two methods to fit a pacemaker:
A pacemaker battery usually lasts between six and ten years. Sometimes it lasts longer.
Your doctor receives information from your pacemaker including how much battery life is left. When the battery is running low, your doctor will advise you and you will need surgery to replace it.
The procedure to change your pacemaker battery is much simpler than your original pacemaker surgery. It is a day case procedure performed under local anaesthetic and most people go home the same day. Your surgeon will reopen your wound, remove your pacemaker box, and replace it with a new one.
After you have had a pacemaker fitted you should avoid strenuous activities for up to six weeks. After that, you can resume most activities and sports. If you play contact sports, such as football or rugby, you need to avoid collisions and it is advisable to wear a protective pad. You should avoid very energetic activities, such as squash.
Several types of devices and machinery may interfere with pacemakers. Your doctor can advise you about specific devices and machinery to avoid. As a general note you should avoid:
The benefits of having a pacemaker include:
The cost of a coronary angiogram will depend on your Ramsay hospital of choice.
You will receive a formal quotation price for a pacemaker implantation following your consultation with one of our expert cardiologists. This formal quote will be valid for 60 days.
Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers, this treatment is covered by most medical insurance policies as long as they are deemed medically necessary by your doctor. We advise you to obtain written authorisation from your insurance provider.
We have a number of finance options if you are paying for your treatment yourself with no deposit and benefit from flexible payment plans to suit your finances. Find out more about accessing healthcare with us here.
A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that is surgically placed in your chest to help control your heartbeat. It senses when your heart is beating irregularly or too slowly and sends a signal to your heart to make it beat at the correct pace.
Pacemaker implantation is one of the most common types of heart surgery carried out in the UK.
A pacemaker is a small device that's implanted in your chest to help control your heartbeat. It generates electrical impulses that help your heart beat at a normal rate, rhythm, or both and pump more effectively.
It is used to prevent your heart from beating too slowly, quickly, or irregularly.
Implanting a pacemaker in the chest requires a surgical procedure.
You can access expert cardiologists and will benefit from a convenient appointment without waiting at our Ramsay hospitals.
When you visit one of our hospitals for pacemaker implantation you can rest assured that we follow strict infection control protocols for you your safety.
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