An adult's heart must beat 60-100 beats per minute to meet the body's needs. When the heart rate falls below 40 beats per minute; The patient has symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, fatigue and fainting. There is a small electrical circuit that allows the heart muscle to contract. The first electrical impulse in the heart is created by a lentil-sized structure called the sinus node. After traveling through the atria, the warning reaches the structure called the atrioventricular node. After the conduction is slowed down here. It spreads to the right and left ventricles, with this stimulation the heart muscle contracts and creates a pulse. Rhythm problems occur as a result of interruption or abnormal production in any part of this conduction system.
Pacemakers are small batteries that help maintain the normal rhythm of the heart. They can be temporary or permanent depending on the needs of the patient. In cases such as heart attack, electrolyte disorders, drug intoxications, the electrical system of the heart may be affected and the pulse may decrease. In this case, a temporary pacemaker is inserted until the situation improves. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia through the large veins in the groin, neck or chest leading to the heart. It is performed by placing thin wires called electrodes into the heart and connecting them to a generator outside the body. The wire is removed when the patient's own rhythm improves. Although rare, complications such as bleeding, hematoma, fistula, air leakage into the lung membrane and bleeding, and heart rupture may occur during the procedure.
Permanent pacemakers are installed in cases where the pulse drops permanently or temporarily due to permanent disorders in the electrical system of the heart. Pacemakers constantly monitor the heart rhythm, and when the pulse drops, they are activated and accelerate the pulse. Permanent pacemakers can be single-chamber or double-chamber. The decision to install a dual-chamber or single-chamber pacemaker is made according to the underlying disease of the patient's low pulse rate, so that they try to imitate normal physiology. In diseases such as sick sinus syndrome, atrioventricular complete block, low ventricular rate atrial fibrillation, vasovagal syncope, a permanent pacemaker must be installed. Procedure catheter It takes 45-60 minutes in the laboratory. Patients are usually discharged one day after the procedure. Bleeding, infection or lung infection may occur during the procedure. Complications such as air leaking into the membrane may develop. Erosion may develop in the battery pocket in the medium and long term. In this case, the problem is solved by changing the location of the battery pocket. Batteries generally have a lifespan of 6-10 years. When the battery runs out, only the battery is replaced without touching the wires.
Electroshock devices (implantable cardiac defibrillators) are another type of battery. Patients with heart failure, whose contraction power of the heart has decreased below 30%, have a risk of losing their lives due to sudden rhythm disturbance. Electroshock devices save lives in such patients. Continuous rhythm monitoring in patients with this device installed. When there is an arrhythmia, the device corrects the arrhythmia with a shock.
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