Category: Cardiology

 A pacemaker is a surgically implanted electronic device that regulates heartbeats. Learn more about surgery, procedures, risks, consequences, and advantages by reading this blog.

A pacemaker is a device that controls the heart rate. If your doctor prescribes a pacemaker for you, it will be placed during surgery. This reference overview describes how pacemakers function as well as the advantages and disadvantages of having one. This article also goes over what to expect after having a pacemaker implanted.

Pacemaker

A pacemaker is a surgically implanted electronic device that regulates heartbeats. A pacemaker sends additional electrical impulses to the heart, causing it to beat quicker. A  pacemaker is made up of two parts: a pulse generator and insulated leads. Some pacemakers have one lead, while others have two. The pulse generator is a compact metal box with a tiny electrical chip and a battery inside. The battery supplies electricity, and the electronic chip functions similarly to a computer program. The electronic chip detects the heartbeat and sends out electric signals in response to maintain a regular pace.

The most recent pulse generator types weigh less than 1 ounce and are very thin. They must be changed when the battery expires, which happens every 7-10 years.

Through blood arteries, the leads connect the pulse generator to the heart muscle. They serve two purposes: 

• They detect the rate at which the heart beats and relay the information to the pulse generator.
• According to the pulse generator, the leads send electrical signals to the heart to trigger heartbeats.

Maintaining The Pacemaker

Your pacemaker should be checked by your doctor at least twice a year. He or she slides a wand that resembles a computer mouse over the pacemaker.

Radio signals are used by the wand to communicate with the pacemaker. Your healthcare professional can configure your pacemaker using the wand after verifying the battery state, pacing functions, and other parameters. This allows the pacemaker to be as precise and tailored to your medical needs as feasible. Your doctor may provide you with a gadget that allows you to have your pacemaker tested while you are at home. This is referred to as trans-telephonic monitoring. You may check your pulse rate to ensure that it is right. Consult your doctor about the minimum number of beats per minute you should have.

If you notice your heart is beating too slowly or if you experience any lightheadedness, vision problems, or shortness of breath, contact your doctor. When the pulse generator has to be changed, the procedure is normally performed as an outpatient treatment, and the patient is discharged the same day.

Angioplasty is an interventional technique that is used to clear a blockage in the coronary arteries of the heart and restore normal blood flow to the heart. Read this blog to know more..

What exactly is Angioplasty, and how is it performed?

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), also known as Angioplasty, is an interventional treatment used to remove a blockage in the coronary arteries of the heart and restore healthy blood flow. To do this treatment, a catheter with a balloon and a stent is occasionally put into the arm or leg in one of the arteries going to the heart and slowly guided in position.

Why is Angioplasty performed?

The heart, like any other organ or component of the body, requires a steady flow of oxygen-rich blood to operate properly. This is supplied by the coronary arteries. Because of the underlying condition, cholesterol deposition occurs on the arterial walls over time, narrowing the arteries and reducing blood flow in them. Coronary Artery Disease is the medical term for this illness.

Fat deposits, combined with cellular debris and other chemicals, build and solidify over time in certain CAD patients, forming a plaque. Atherosclerosis is the medical term for this illness. Both of these diseases are treated by angioplasty. However, if there are several blockages or other medical reasons, the doctor may perform Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), sometimes known as ‘bypass surgery.’

Vascular Stenting

The doctor may opt to place a stent there depending on the degree of the blockage and the danger of future obstruction. The stent is a metallic wire mesh that may or may not be coated with medication. The stent is wrapped around the balloon, and as the balloon inflates, the stent is forced against the artery walls and is fixed in place long after the balloon deflates. The stent is coated with medicine that slowly releases and prevents a new blockage from building at that location.

Following the process

Depending on your situation, the physicians may recommend that you stay in the hospital for one or more days. During this time, your heart rate is monitored and medicines are changed. Lifting large goods or vigorous work is prohibited for up to a week. After about a week, you may resume your normal routine and life.