Pacemaker Implantation at OLBH

In order for a heart to pump blood throughout the body, it must be electrically stimulated to beat. In a normal heart the electrical system signals the heart muscle to beat in a precise sequence 60-100 times each minute. Just like the electrical system of a car can occasionally malfunction, so can the heart’s electrical system.

Someone with a slow and often irregular heartbeat - or a heartbeat that is sometimes normal and sometimes too fast or too slow – may not be receiving an adequate blood supply being pumped through the body. In those instances a physician may recommend an artificial pacemaker.

A pacemaker is a small, lightweight, electronic device that is placed inside the body to keep track of a patient’s heartbeat, and when necessary, produces electrical signals similar to the heart’s natural signals. When the heart’s own electrical system sends a signal and the heart beats, the pacemaker waits and does nothing. When the heart’s system misses a signal, the pacemaker sends one out to replace it, keeping the heart beating normally and pumping the proper amount of blood through the body.

The pacemaker has two parts – leads/wires and a pulse generator, or battery. The pulse generator, a small, metal case containing a computer and a battery, makes the electrical signals when they are needed. The patient does not actually feel any sensations from the pacemaker. The leads, insulated wires, carry the electrical impulses from the generator directly to the heart muscle, causing it to contract.

Cardiac Specialists Implant Pacemakers at OLBH

Experienced cardiac specialists implant pacemakers at OLBH using an advanced imaging system. The system’s advanced capabilities yields real-time, digital views that allow for the most precise guidance of therapeutic devices to improve cardiovascular health.

If you feel you may have an irregular heartbeat, speak to your physician about how the innovative technology at OLBH can help improve your cardiovascular health. If you do not have a physician, the OLBH CareLine can refer you to one who meets your needs; simply call (606) 833-CARE (2273), or e-mail at careline@bshsi.org.