What is a pacemaker and how will it help my arrhythmia?
A pacemaker is a small self-contained metal box containing a battery, circuits and connections for wires, which are passed down through views under the collar-bone under local anaesthetic, guided by X-rays. The implantation of a pacemaker under the skin near the collarbone leaves a scar about two inches long, takes about 1 hour, and sedation is often given to increase comfort. Often patients can go home the same day, and after a week or two, when the wound has settled, a completely normal life can resume. There are sensible restrictions on activity, which might damage the pacemaker box, such as the recoil from a shotgun and competitive swimming which strains the wires. Airport security should be alerted as you approach the routine checks. Otherwise pacemakers hardly affect normal life. The batteries last about 10 years, and then they are changed with another simple procedure under local anaesthetic. The A-A has an information booklet explaining what a pacemaker is and what to expect af
