Pacemaker/ICD insertion is done in the hospital, either as a short-stay surgical procedure, or in the cardiac catheterization or electrophysiology laboratory. The child is given medication to help him/her relax during the procedure. In older children and teenagers who receive a transvenous pacemaker, a small incision is made just under the collarbone. The pacemaker/ICD lead(s) is inserted into the heart through a blood vessel which runs under the collarbone.

In the old days, the devices were implanted left of the belly button with a long cable running under the breast, up near the collar bone, and down into the heart. Now that engineers found ways to make the ICD smaller, they are usually implanted in the left upper chest - eliminating some of the persistent pain that goes with the long cable which can move around.

Pacemaker implantation is not open-heart surgery. It’s a minor procedure that’s done in the operating room or cardiac catheterization lab. You will receive an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the insertion area. Since you will be awake during the procedure, you may be asked to assist the physician by taking deep breaths. An incision will be made in your skin below your collarbone. (Pacemakers can be inserted on either the right or left side.

Your physician may ask you to check your pulse regularly and to check your pacemaker by sending signals to your doctor’s office by phone. Pacemaker batteries, which are located in the generator, need to be replaced every five to 10 years. (Don’t worry, the batteries won’t run down unexpectedly.) This requires opening the incision to replace the generator. This procedure is shorter than the initial one. The same situation would occur if the leads needed to be replaced.

implanted pacemaker is a small device that is implanted under the skin and sends electrical signals to start or regulate a slow heartbeat. An implanted pacemaker may be used to stimulate the heartbeat if the heart's natural pacemaker (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) is not functioning properly, has developed an abnormally slow heart rate or rhythm, or if the electrical pathways are blocked.

first, you may feel the weight of the device in your chest. However, over time, most people become accustomed to the way it feels. The generator is very small, about the size of two silver dollars stacked on top of each other, and weighs about an ounce or less, depending on the make and model of the device. If the ICD sends a shock to the heart or "fires," the person will feel this as a jolt or kick in the chest.

Yes, you can travel with your device and drive a car if cleared by your doctor. You should be sure to always have your identification card with you wherever you go.  Persons with ICDs may not be allowed to drive unless cleared by their physician.

Current models can last up to eight years. That can be reduced by the number of times you need "therapy" and will be shorter if you need frequent pacing. A pacemaker lasts longer because its battery demands are much lower - its purpose is simpler requiring much less energy and demanding less power for monitoring and analysis.

When the heart's natural pacemaker has a dysfunction, the signals it sends out may become erratic: either too slow, too fast, or too irregular to stimulate adequate contractions of the heart chambers. When the heartbeat becomes erratic, it is referred to as an arrhythmia (an abnormal rhythm of the heart, which can cause the heart to pump less effectively). ICDs may be recommended for persons with significant ventricular rhythm problems which could pose a risk for sudden death.

a pulse generator which has a sealed lithium battery and an electronic circuitry package. The pulse generator produces the electrical signals that make the heart beat. Many pulse generators also have the capability to receive and respond to signals that are sent by the heart itself. one or two wires (also called leads). Leads are insulated, flexible wires that conduct electrical signals to the heart from the pulse generator. The leads may also relay signals from the heart to the pulse generator.

Standard electric toothbrushes and ultrasonic toothbrushes should not interfere with an implanted pacemaker. When we tested two ultrasonic toothbrush models with St. Jude Medical pacemakers, there was no adverse interaction. There haven't been any patient or clinical reports of an interaction between ultrasonic toothbrushes and pacemakers.

When the heart's natural pacemaker has a dysfunction, the signals it sends out may become erratic, too slow, too fast, or too irregular to stimulate adequate contractions of the heart chambers. When the heartbeat becomes erratic, it is referred to as an arrhythmia (an abnormal rhythm of the heart, which can cause the heart to pump less effectively). Not allowing the chambers to fill with an adequate amount of blood because the electrical signal is causing the heart to pump too fast.

ICD = Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator. Like a pacemaker, it is a device to correct cardiac arrhythmia. This device usually has a pacing function to overcome slow beats. The cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry provides a short burst of high voltage electricity to disrupt the "fluttering" when a heart races as fast as 300+ beats per minute, and restore a normal (sinus rhythm) heart beat.

ICD (implantable defibrillator) is an electronic device. The device is used to shock the heart back into a healthy rhythm. The pacemaker is implanted in the body (in the chest area) and is used to prevent cardiac arrest from severe ventricular tachycardia (a quickly fluttering heart beat). The device works through an electrode that is inserted into the heart. The wire (lead) is connected to a tiny computer in the defibrillator.

Most devices will last several years, after which the battery or pulse generator will need to be replaced. Replacing a  generator may be done on an outpatient basis or may include an overnight stay in the hospital.