A pacemaker is placed in the body to control the rhythm of the heartbeat. Typically, complications from a pacemaker are rare. Less than 5 percent of patients have problems soon after receiving a pacemaker, notes MayoClinic.com. Factors such as obesity, consuming too much alcohol and smoking can increase the rate of complications after pacemaker surgery, according to Aurora Health.
Infection
An infection may arise at the site where the pacemaker was placed, says MayoClinic.com. The infection will typically be treated with antibiotics and watched closely to ensure that the infection is cleared. Some doctors automatically order antibiotics for the patient after this procedure to ensure that an infection does not lodge in the area where the pacemaker was inserted.
Tear in Heart Muscle
A rare complication after implantation of a pacemaker is a tear in the heart muscle, notes Aurora Health. This can cause loose blood flow within the heart, which requires immediate medical care.
Allergic Response
Some patients experience an allergic response to the anesthesia drug administered during a pacemaker implant procedure, notes MayoClinic.com. As in any surgery, the anesthesia drug could cause a serious reaction such as anaphylactic shock, in which the body reacts strongly to the drug and organs stop functioning. This is a rare complication.
Bruising, Bleeding, Swelling
After the pacemaker is inserted into the chest, some bruising, swelling or blood loss could occur, reports the MayoClinic.com. In the post-operative period the chest area will be monitored closely to keep track of any skin reactions from the surgery.
Collapsed Lung
Damage to the chest wall during the pacemaker surgery is a rare complication. This trauma can cause a lung to collapse, notes the MayoClinic.com. This is a serious complication that will require treatment by a lung specialist.
