Implantation of Pacemakers

If you suffer under heart rhythm disturbances and your cardiologist verified it and if they must or can be treated with the pacemaker, your cardiologist will propose an implantation of a pacemaker system to you. At that time you will be also informed about the functions and possibilities of the pacemaker system that you will need.
There are two different types of pacemaker systems: one and two chamber pacemaker systems. As the name already says, a one chamber system consists of one lead (electrode) which is placed routinely in the right heart ventricle (chamber) and stimulates the heart only at this position, and a pacemaker aggregate which is implanted under the skin, mostly on the right side. The one chamber system is also called VVI system. The two chamber system is more complicated. It has two leads (electrodes) which are implanted in the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. That’s why it is called two chamber pacemaker. The pacemaker aggregate is implanted in the same way; under the skin. This system is also called DDD system. The term VVI or DDD means the technical description for the specialist how the system functions.
The pacemaker systems can be implanted ambulatory or stationary (in and out patients). Whether an ambulatory implantation is possible depends on the medical condition of the patient as well as on basic diseases which is the cause for the implantation. According to our experience about 40% of all pacemaker implantations can safely be done ambulatory.
Usually the patient has an appointment in the morning of the implantation day, even if the stationary (in-patient) implantation is scheduled. The patient has to be fasting. The routine tests will be performed (ECG, laboratory) and the patient will be sent to the operating theater. We perform all implantations in the operating theater because of infections risk. The implantation procedure does not require blood transfusion. The average duration of these procedures ranges between 20 and 60 minutes. Usually the implantation is performed in local anesthesia; the patient is conscious but without pain. Of course one anesthetist is always in the theater, if there is a need.
After the implantation you will stay for several hours in the recovery room, or on ward for monitoring. If the implantation was scheduled as ambulatory surgery you will leave the department in the evening after the control of the system.
If you are an in-patient you will spend one or two days on ward for monitoring. After the pacemaker control on the second day you will be dismissed.
The first post implantation control will be performed one week after the implantation in our department. If all parameters are normal, as expected, the next control will be scheduled one month after the implantation. For this and all other controls you can choose the place where to do it. Of course we will be glad to have you with us further on. We want you to know that we, as the implantations Centrum, are available for you at any time.