“A pacemaker is a small device that is implanted in the chest and helps control the heartbeat. Small wires are connected to the heart muscle, others are located in the pacemaker. The device detects abnormal heart rhythms and sends electrical impulses to the cardiac system. conduction to normalize the heart rhythm or eliminate dangerous heartbeats (for example, atrial fibrillation or episodes when the heart does not “turn on” for a long time and the interval between myocardial contractions is too long),” explained Ekaterina Serebrennikova.
“Electrocardial stimulation (ECS) is the method of choice in the treatment of patients with life-threatening rhythm and conduction disturbances of the heart, as well as congestive heart failure. The task of ECS is to impose the correct rhythm on the heart and prevent sudden death. adds Ekaterina Buchina.
“Rhythm disturbances are different and appropriate pacemakers are needed. It happens that the rhythm is very rare due to blockage of certain ganglia of the heart, the conduction system. In this case, a stimulator is installed, which provides an additional rhythm to the ” The heart can beat with a normal frequency and sometimes life-threatening arrhythmias that recur with certain periodicity. Then you need a stimulator that reacts to rhythm disturbances, connects and maintains the rhythm when necessary,” says Dr. Serebrennikova.
A pacemaker prescription may include unexpected fainting, feeling of an irregular heartbeat, or a pounding heartbeat (more than 160 beats per minute) due to an arrhythmia. Abnormalities in the functioning of the heart can also be detected using an ECG, so you should not forget about dispensary appointments. “Performing an ECG after 40 years is included in the mandatory preventive study,” the experts point out.
Every year, this operation is performed on approximately one million patients around the world, restoring their quality of life. “After performing this operation, a person does not experience any major restrictions for the rest of his life. Various physical activities are allowed, except for those that may be associated with blows to the chest (boxing, martial arts and fencing are prohibited) There are also restrictions on the use of high-voltage electrical equipment (microwave oven, overhead lines or power cables, high-voltage current transformers), nor can it be under the electromagnetic influence of a certain power (for example, examination is prohibited “But using computers, phones and going through frames (metal detectors) is quite acceptable,” Dr. Buchina said.
How a pacemaker is placed in Russian patients
Only a frequency-adapted single-chamber pacemaker is implanted at the expense of compulsory medical insurance.
But some regions buy other types of medical products. For example, at the expense of the Moscow budget, it is possible to implant a two- and three-chamber frequency-adapted pacemaker.
Pacemaker testing and reprogramming is done free of charge for the patient; The procedure is paid for by compulsory health insurance.
