A pacemaker is an electronic device that serves to stimulate the heart and make this organ have a proper contraction, a medical equipment that is installed for patients who have a slow heart rate and who also present symptoms such as severe dizziness, fainting or falls.
“It consists of a battery, an electronic circuit and some connections to which electrodes that go to the heart are attached. From an electrical point of view, its function is to allow a heartbeat to occur, which is programmed in such a way that it is as close to a normal heartbeat as possible. The pacemaker does replace the electrical part, but not the mechanical part”, points out Dr. Efraín Gil Roncancio, an electrophysiologist at our institution.
Regarding the time that this device can last in operation, doctor Gil specifies that the battery is not changeable, “it comes in a sealed unit and its duration varies according to the use of the patient and can be from 8 to 12 years”; Likewise, he explains that age is not decisive for its use, “here at the Clinic, pacemakers have been implanted in babies days after birth, as well as in elderly patients. At any stage, the person may need a pacemaker, although older patients require this type of therapy more,” he says.
What care to have
- Follow the recommendations given by the doctor.
- The person can lead his life as normal.
- Every six months or every year the patient must go for a review of the device.
- Patients with pacemakers are given a card that contains information about the device and identifies them as carriers of the device.
- Typically, the pacemaker does not fail. There are some devices that give auditory alert signs if there is a problem, if the device sets an alarm you should see a doctor.
myths
- The pacemaker may be affected if the patient is exposed to magnetic interference.
R/ People are not normally exposed to a large magnetic field.
- The use of cell phones, computers, household appliances or electrical equipment in an office affect its operation.
R/ These devices do not have major interference on a pacemaker.
At the Grupo Quirónsalud Clinic we have a specialized medical team, as well as state-of-the-art technology for the care of our patients and their families.