Best doctor for Pacemaker Implantation in Delhi | Dr. Rajiv Agarwal

Best doctor for Pacemaker implantation in Delhi. A pacemaker is a tiny device operated by a battery that is installed over the chest wall to keep the heartbeat regular and normally paced. SA node or sinus node is a small electrical impulse generator that is situated in our heart. This is responsible for creating normally paced heartbeats. When there is a problem in the sinus node due to aging or any heart disease, the patient feels a slow rhythm of the heartbeat and it sometimes becomes faster than normal. This is known as sick sinus syndrome that leads to cardiac arrhythmia. So an electrical pacemaker is then needed to work instead of a sinus node.

Other patients may have conduction blocks at various levels in the heart now as the Atrioventricular node, and in the bundle branches. All these may lead to slow heart rate which may cause the patient to faint or even threaten life. The pacemaker has one or two wires that are passed into the right sided heart chambers wire and a generator battery. The generator generates some mild electrical signals with the help of the battery and the wires help in transporting this signal to the chambers of the heart. This whole device helps in regulating the heartbeat and ensures proper functioning of the heart with the help of its sensors.

Who can benefit from A Pacemaker?

• Patients suffering from the sick sinus syndrome or conduction block
• Weakness in heart muscles or QT syndrome Patients
• Heart Failure Patients
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients
• Patients having fainting spells or syncope
• Beneficial for abnormally paced heartbeat such as cardiac arrhythmia, arterial fibrillation patients
• Good for heart transplant patients as well
• Genetic Heart Condition Patients
• When the heartbeat becomes irregular after a heart attack
• Some people face abnormal heartbeats due to a reaction to certain medications

How the Pacemaker Installation is performed?

The patient is taken to the procedure room and the local anesthesia is given. An incision is made in the chest and the pacemaker wire is guided through a vein to the heart. The pacemaker wire is tracked with the help of a fluoroscopy machine that gives images of the heart. When the pacemaker wire reaches the heart the other end of this is attached to the pulse generator which is placed in a subcutaneous pocket that is created over the chest. Best doctor for pacemaker in Delhi.

What are the T Types of Pacemakers?

• Single Chamber Pacemaker – This single chamber pacemaker is attached to only one chamber of the heart that is the right ventricle. The generator in the pacemaker sends the signals to the wire or electrode that is attached to the right ventricle of the heart. less commonly the single chamber pacemaker wire may be placed in the right atrium only, when the conduction system is normal and the problem is only in the sinus node.
• Double Chamber Pacemaker – As the name suggests, the double chamber pacemaker sends the impulses to both the chambers of the heart that are the right atrium and right ventricle. The generator works the same way and the wires (electrodes) are attached to both the right chambers of the heart.
• BVP or Biventricular Pacemaker – This type of pacemaker is attached to the both right and left ventricles of the heart and gives better contraction to heart failure patients. The attachment to the lower chambers of the heart leads to a good heartbeat and that too in sync. This implant is also known as Cardiac Resynchronization therapy or CRT.

You can feel any of these symptoms –

• Irregular Heart Beat/ Heart Block That means the heartbeat sometimes becomes slower than normal then it becomes faster than normal and it doesn’t have any set pace of its own.
• Faster heartbeat when the heartbeat is faster than normal it is known as tachycardia.
• Slow heartbeat when the heartbeat is slower than normal it is known as bradycardia.

How the Diagnosis of an irregular heartbeat is made?

Various diagnostic tests are performed to reach a conclusion that the patient needs a pacemaker.

• ECG – In this test, some electrodes are applied to your chest and the activity of the heart muscles is recorded. This gives a fair idea about the conduction of impulses in the heart and their pace.
• Echocardiography – This test is like an ultrasound of the heart where the heart muscles are visualized by the virtue of sound waves. The functioning of the heart is observed and any abnormality such as abnormal rhythm, poor blood flow, delay in contraction, etc if present is recorded.
• TMT or Stress Test – The patient is asked to walk on a treadmill and then the heart activity is noted with ECG or echo. The condition of the heart and its response with an increase in a heartbeat is noted. In case the patient is not able to exercise or walk, a medicine is given in a controlled environment that increases the heartbeat.
• Electrophysiology Test – A wire is passed through your thigh or arm to the heart. This wire then notes the electrical activity of the heart.

What to Expect after pacemaker installation?

• Don’t skip your follow-up appointment when Dr Agarwal asks you to come after the procedure, Generally, the follow-up is after 4 to 6 weeks after pacemaker installation.
• Don’t keep your cell phone in your shirt pocket, rather keep it in your lower pockets.
• You should not go near high-energy radio waves such as power plants, welding machines, and generators, etc.
• If a doctor suggests you an MRI or any diagnostic procedure, tell them that you have a pacemaker installed so that you can be advised accordingly.
• You can use other electromagnetic appliances such as microwaves, electrical blankets, electric shavers, and remote controls, etc.
• You should avoid smoking as well.
• Please ask the security people to keep the metal detector away from the pacemaker site and carrying a doctor’s prescription is a good idea for that.

When can I go home after the pacemaker installation?

You can go home the next day after pacemaker installation. You will have to come for a follow-up after 4 to 6 weeks whenever advised.

What is the battery life of the pacemaker?

The new pacemakers have a good battery life that lasts for about 5 to 10 years. The battery replacement procedure is not as daunting for the patient and it requires much less recovery time.