About the Procedure
Implantation of pacemakers in the clinic of the N.I. Pirogov VMT is carried out by experienced specialists – doctors and candidates of medical sciences who have completed internships in leading clinics of the world. Our specialists are members of the European, World, Scandinavian and Asian Associations of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons.
Today, more than two million patients worldwide are carriers of permanent implantable devices, allowing them to lead a practically unrestricted lifestyle.
The main goal of pacemaker implantation is to eliminate life-threatening arrhythmias and, as a result, improve the quality of life.
The most common condition requiring the use of an implantable cardiac pacemaker is bradycardia - a too slow heart rate. Possible symptoms include dizziness, rapid fatigue, shortness of breath, pre-fainting, and fainting. Bradycardia is usually caused by one of the following heart conditions: sick sinus syndrome (SSS) - the sinus node sends impulses infrequently, at too large or irregular intervals, and heart block - a disruption of the normal conduction of electrical impulses in the heart, which can occur at various levels of the conduction system. Bradycardia, as a disease, is diagnosed when the rhythm has a very low frequency, does not respond to physical exertion, or there are large pauses in heartbeats, which can reach or even exceed 3 seconds. When there is documentary evidence on an ECG or a 24-hour monitor, indications for pacemaker implantation (PM) are determined.
Now let's briefly discuss the procedure for implanting a cardiac pacemaker. This is a surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia, during which a small incision is made in the right or left subclavian area. Depending on which pacemaker will be implanted, one, two, or three electrodes will be inserted through the vein (by puncturing the subclavian vein) and placed inside the heart under X-ray control.
One of the most challenging aspects of pacemaker implantation surgery is securing the electrode tip in the atrium and ventricle to obtain good contact. The task is to find the most sensitive area while obtaining a good signal from the inner surface of the heart, registered from the electrodes being placed. After fixing the electrodes, they are connected to the pacemaker, which is placed in the formed pocket under the fascia of the adipose tissue or under the muscles of the chest wall in the access area in the subclavian region.
The duration of hospitalization usually does not exceed 3 days, after which the patient is discharged with recommendations. The individual features of each implanted device imply periodic checking and adjustment of parameters for the most effective operation of the cardiac pacemaker (3-6-12 months).
In the High Medical Technologies Clinic, the implantation and programming of high-tech and exclusively imported cardiac pacemakers.