Patient Care Services

Back to Cardiovascular Services Table of Contents

Pacemakers
The heart has a natural pacemaker that produces electrical impulses which cause it to contract and pump blood. However, sometimes the process fails to work properly so that the heartbeat is too slow, too fast or irregular.

When that happens, the solution may be an artificial pacemaker, which is surgically implanted in a safe, relatively simple procedure. Afterward, the patient may stay overnight in a cardiology monitoring unit at the hospital. Within a few days, he or she will be back to normal activity.

Although the pacemakers of the past were rather large, those used today are small, about the size of a matchbox, and operate only when needed. A sensing device tells the pacemaker when to kick into action. Also, pacemakers today may be adjusted to the lifestyle and activity level of the individual.

Interference from other electronic devices was sometimes a problem in the past. The pacemakers of today are less sensitive to interference.