Pacemakers are small, battery-powered devices that are used to regulate the heart beat when it is beating too slowly (bradycardia). The device, which is about the size of a large wrist watch, weighs barely an ounce, and is comprised of leads and a pulse generator.
The leads are wires that are carefully threaded through the veins into the heart and touch the heart muscle. The pulse generator is implanted into the body just below the collarbone. When the pacemaker senses the heart is beating too slowly, an electrical impulse is delivered to the heart muscle, causing it to contract and beat faster.
Getting a pacemaker does not require open-heart surgery because the device is implanted in a small pocket made by the physician in the skin under the collarbone. Once implanted, routine monitoring and follow-up care are necessary to ensure the device continues to function properly. Summa Health’s Cardiac Device Clinic monitors patients who have an implantable device. Your cardiologist can learn valuable information about how your heart and the device are working – and can make adjustments if necessary.
To learn more about pacemakers or other implantable devices available as part of Summa Health's cardiac care, call for an appointment today.
