FAQ

The Cincinnati Children’s hospital states a pulse generator is placed within the body, while leads with electrodes are threaded through veins into the heart to detect the heart’s rhythm. They sense the heartbeat, signaling to the pacemaker, when and how to pace the heart according to pre-insertion programmed ranges. These all work together to assist with pacing the heart’s rhythm.

Boston Children’s Hospital informs us that pacemaker batteries last 5-8 years. Actual time depends on how the pacemaker is programmed and used; battery life could be longer or shorter.

The Boston Children’s Hospital states that you can live a long, healthy and happy life with a pacemaker. Therefore, individuals could expect to have up to 7-8 pacemakers in their life, depending upon individual health and lifestyle. However, with pacemaker batteries continuing to last longer, patients may require fewer in their lifetime.

According to Johns Hopkins, high-voltage and strong magnetic devices disrupt pacemaker devices. These machines should be avoided when possible, and personnel using them should be informed of the pacemaker.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute shares: The child will undergo anesthesia while a cardiac surgeon  implants a pacemaker. First, leads or wires and electrodes are threaded through veins into the heart. The electrodes are put in the heart muscle. Then the surgeon creates a space between muscle and tissue, a “pocket”, within the abdomen or chest area, depending on the age and size of the child,  in which to place the pulse generator. Surgery may take a few hours.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, patients should ask: How will a pacemaker affect my life? What happens during the procedure? What are my limitations after the procedure? Are there any alternative options?