#Heart monitor implanted under skin generator
#Heart monitor implanted under skin skin

The procedure usually takes about an hour, and most people are able to leave hospital on the same day or a day after surgery.

#Heart monitor implanted under skin generator

The generator is attached to a wire that's guided through a blood vessel to the heart.

#Heart monitor implanted under skin skin

The generator is usually placed under the skin near the collarbone on the left side of the chest. It's usually carried out under local anaesthetic, which means you'll be awake during the procedure. Having a pacemaker implanted is a relatively straightforward process. Read more about why you might need a pacemaker.

cardiac arrest (when a problem with the heart's electrical signals cause the heart to stop beating altogether).

heart block (where your heart beats irregularly because the electrical signals that control your heartbeat aren't transmitted properly).

an abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia).

an abnormally slow heartbeat (bradycardia).

These signals can become disrupted for several reasons, which can lead to a number of potentially dangerous heart conditions, such as: The heart is essentially a pump made of muscle, which is controlled by electrical signals. There's also a newer type of ICD where the pacing lead is implanted under the skin (subcutaneously). This often helps return the heart to a normal rhythm.Ī conventional ICD has a pacing lead that's implanted along a vein (transvenously). If the ICD senses the heart is beating at a potentially dangerous abnormal rate, it'll deliver an electrical shock to the heart. ICDs are often used as a preventative treatment for people thought to be at risk of cardiac arrest at some point in the future. Some devices contain both a pacemaker and an ICD. It sends a larger electrical shock to the heart that essentially 'reboots' it to get it pumping again. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs)Īn implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a device similar to a pacemaker. Doctors describe this as rate responsive. This allows them to speed up the discharge rate when you're active. Most pacemakers have a special sensor that recognises body movement or your breathing rate. If it senses that your heart is beating normally by itself, it does not send out any signals. If the pacemaker senses that your heart has missed a beat or is beating too slowly, it sends signals at a steady rate. This means they can be programmed to adjust the discharge rate in response to your body's needs. The rate at which the electrical impulses are sent out is called the pacing rate.Īlmost all modern pacemakers work on demand. The pulse generator emits electrical impulses through the wires to your heart. It consists of a pulse generator, which has a battery and a tiny computer circuit, and 1 or more wires known as pacing leads, which attach to your heart. How a pacemaker worksĪ pacemaker is a small device about the size of a matchbox or smaller that weighs 20 to 50g. In the UK, pacemaker implantation is one of the most common types of heart surgery carried out, with many thousands of pacemakers fitted each year. The device can be lifesaving for some people. Having a pacemaker can significantly improve your quality of life if you have problems with a slow heart rate. The pacemaker sends electrical pulses to your heart to keep it beating regularly and not too slowly. If you need to have a pacemaker fitted, a small electrical device called a pacemaker will be surgically implanted in your chest.