Although the pacemaker can be used by everyone, physicians who recommend permanent pacemaker implantation must consider “comorbidities, surgical risks, quality of life, and patient preference” (Bains 2017). Before we begin the surgical procedure, we need to understand the difference between the 4 types of pacemakers. External (transcutaneous) pacemakers are outside of the body, but the wires are attached to the skin. This type is used for emergencies because they are only temporary. The next type is the temporary epicardial pacemaker. This type is used during heart surgery when trying to induce cardiac simulation which was the original purpose of the pacemaker. The wires are attached to outside of the heart but inside the body. …show more content…
Surgeons first either make a pocket for the pulse generator or position the guide wire into the heart. The first guide wire is led through the subclavian vein, located at the first rib and clavicle using a needle. Once the wire reaches the right atrium, the guide wire is placed there until the positioning of the second wire using the same procedure. For the pulse generator, a pocket of 1.5-2 inches is made by making a small incision near the clavicle. In this incision, the pulse generator is stored in the …show more content…
A., & Federico, A. J. (2006). William M. Chardack, MD. Heart Rhythm, 3(10), 1241-1241. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2006.06.018
Bains, P., Chatur, S., Ignaszewski, M., Ladhar, S., & Bennett, M. (2017). John Hopps and the pacemaker: A history and detailed overview of devices, indications, and complications. British Columbia Medical Journal, 59(1), 29-37.
Guly, C. (1997). Canadian engineer left to his own devices. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 157(7), 863.
Clark, J. (2009). Pacemaker. Beaver, 89(4), 10.
Khan Academy. (2014, July 08). Retrieved March 13, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3xMC6zdrvM
Crash Course. (2015, July 06). Retrieved March 13, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9ZZ6tcxArI&t=207s
Crash Course. (2015, July 13). Retrieved March 13, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLBMwcvOaEo&t=265s
Cooley, D. A. (1999). A tribute to C. Walton Lillehei, the “Father of open heart surgery”. Texas Heart Institute Journal, 26(3), 165–166.
Collapsed Lung | Atelectasis | Pneumothorax | MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2017, from