Pacemaker implantation

According to statistics from the WHO, the number of deaths from heart and vascular diseases exceeds deaths from oncology. One of the most common diseases of the cardiovascular system that can cause cardiac arrest is arrhythmia. In developed countries, cardiac surgeons install a pacemaker for patients to treat arrhythmias. The presence of a pacemaker significantly improves the quality of a person’s life, and in some cases, the device can save a life.

The main task of a pacemaker is to analyze the rhythm and create regular heart pulses if a rare or irregular rhythm with gaps in contractions occurs. If the heart beats at a regular frequency, the pacemaker in this case does not create impulses, but continues to control the heart rate.

Indications for installing a pacemaker

A pacemaker is used when there is a violation of the self-regulation of the heart rhythm. In this case, the heart beats too slowly (bradycardia) or too fast (tachycardia).

The slow heartbeat may be due to sick sinus syndrome, bundle-branch block, or atrioventricular block. With these pathologies, the conduction of electrical impulses in the heart muscle does not pass properly. There is also a risk that the heart will stop working and stop.

Irregular heartbeats can be caused by diseases in other organs (thyroid dysfunction) or medications for heart failure and high blood pressure.

World statistics of pacemaker installation:

• In accordance with the Ohio State Medical Center, USA, implantation of a pacemaker is successful in 99% of patients.
• According to the UK National Health Service, pacemaker implantation is one of the most common types of heart surgery.
• In accordance with the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, 3 out of 1 000 people have a pacemaker. Most often these are people aged 75 and over.

Symptoms of an abnormal heart rhythm

The main symptoms of an abnormal heart rhythm are:

• Cardiopalmus;
• Drowsiness;
• Constant muscle weakness;
• Confused thoughts with significant memory impairment;
• Chest pain or discomfort;
• Fainting and light-headedness;
• Angina pectoris;
• Headache and dizziness.

The appearance of such symptoms in the absence of physical activity indicates the need for urgent surgery.

If you have symptoms of heart rhythm disturbances at rest or during physical activity, you should consult a cardiologist. Timely diagnosis will help you choose the right treatment and prevent possible complications.

Heart rhythm diagnostics

To make the correct diagnosis and choose an effective treatment, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons prescribe the following examinations to patients:

• Electrocardiography (ECG) — a study shows the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle and helps the doctor determine its size;
• Daily monitoring of blood pressure (Holter monitoring) — continuous monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate for 24 hours;
• Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart) — performed to assess the shape, structure and condition of the components of the heart;
• Stress test (bicycle ergometry) — allows the doctor to recognize a pathology that appears only during physical exertion of the body.

MedTour patients undergo complex diagnostics (check-up) of the cardiovascular system in TOP clinics abroad. Cardiological check-up abroad guarantees reliable research results in a short time, which allows identifying cardiac pathologies at the initial stage.

Treating an irregular heartbeat

To treat irregular heart rhythms, doctors use the following methods:

• Physical impact (electric current);
• Drug therapy;
• Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (installation of a pacemaker).

How is going the operation to install a pacemaker

In the most common implantation method, the doctor makes a small «pit» under the skin after anesthesia and disinfection of the surgical area under the collarbone. After the device has been inserted into that pit, the doctor gently advances the thin wires (electrodes) through a vein just below the collarbone.

During the procedures, he conducts X-ray control, direct contact with the tissue of the heart muscle. To prevent the electrodes from slipping, the cardiac surgeon fixes them in the muscle tissue. Then the electrodes are firmly connected to the apparatus, which is fixed to the muscle tissue with a suture.

Once the device is installed, the doctor checks it to make sure it is working correctly. Then the skin over the pacemaker is sutured and a bandage is applied.

In rare cases, a device is placed in the abdomen and electrodes are attached to the outside of the heart.

How much does it cost to install a pacemaker

The cost of an operation in a particular country depends on the following factors:

• Clinic pricing policy;
• Qualification and experience of a cardiac surgeon;
• Surgical intervention method;
• The cost of a pacemaker.

Examples of the cost of implantation of a pacemaker in clinics around the world:

• Ukraine — from $1 500;
• Russia — from $7 000;
• Turkey — from $7 000;
• Israel — from $14 000;
• Czech Republic — from $16 000;
• South Korea — from $17 000.

Most foreign clinics include in the cost of the operation: transfer, hospital stay, preoperative examinations.

Frequently asked questions about installing a pacemaker

When should a patient have a pacemaker inserted?

Your doctor will recommend a pacemaker for certain cardiac arrhythmias that slow or temporarily stop your heart rate. Such abnormalities can be discovered by chance during an ECG examination or are manifested by symptoms such as dizziness and short-term loss of consciousness.

What is a pacemaker?

A pacemaker is a device that consists of electrodes, a battery, and a pacemaker system. It is designed to create regular heart rate impulses. Modern pacemakers weigh only 7 grams and are about the size of a matchbox.

What method of anesthesia is used to implant a pacemaker?

A pacemaker is usually implanted under the collarbone under local anesthesia. In addition, sedative and relaxing medications are usually prescribed by the anesthesiologist.

What should the patient consider before installing a pacemaker?

If you regularly take medications for other diseases, you should inform your surgeon in advance. Some medications (blood thinners) should be stopped several days before the surgery.

What should the patient be aware of after installing a pacemaker?

Even after outpatient pacemaker installation, the patient must remain under medical supervision. Due to the sedative medication, it may take some time before consciousness returns to the patient. Therefore, it is forbidden to drive a car on the day of the operation and to use public transport without the supervision of loved ones.

How much does a pacemaker implantation cost in Turkey?

The average cost of a pacemaker implantation in Turkey is $7 500.

How is rehabilitation done after installing a pacemaker?

Doctors prescribe supportive drug therapy and physiotherapy exercises to the patient after the operation to restore the body. Dosed physical activity stimulates the immune system and improves endurance.

If necessary, the doctor prescribes a course of psychotherapy. During the course, the patient is helped to become aware of the presence of a foreign object in the body and to accept a number of restrictions that are associated with this.

To sign up for an operation of pacemaker implantation in a foreign clinic, leave a request on the MedTour website. The coordinating doctor will help you choose the best cardiac surgeon, answer all questions and organize a trip abroad.