For some people whose hearts beat irregularly or too slowly, doctors may recommend a pacemaker, a small electrical device implanted under the skin near the collar bone. Leads from the device are guided through veins into the heart and connected to the heart tissue. Pacemakers monitor the electrical impulses in the heart that cause the heart to beat. When the heart’s natural pacemaker fails to generate an impulse, the implanted pacemaker takes over, firing an impulse that causes a heartbeat. According the Mayo Clinic, fewer than 5 percent of patients experience complications from pacemaker implantations. However, as with any surgical procedure, complications may occur.
Surgical Complications
Any surgical procedure carries the risk of wound infection simply because incisions open the body up to environmental micro-organisms. Standard surgical procedures include administration of an antibiotic during surgery to protect the patient from infection, and of course sterile surgical technique is used. Bleeding may occur, especially in patients taking anticoagulant medications such as Coumadin. Patients are typically advised to stop taking these medications a few days before surgery. The Mayo Clinic advises that allergic reactions to anesthesia medications may occur in some sensitive individuals.
Damage to the Heart
Although very rare, damage to the heart tissue may occur during implantation. When the leads are guided inside the heart, scarring of the heart tissue may occur. Perforation of the heart is a rare but possible complication, according to the Encyclopedia of Surgery.
Pacemaker Malfunction
Rarely, the pacemaker will not function appropriately. It may fail to generate the appropriate electrical impulses, so that the heart beats too slowly, or generate too many impulses, causing a rapid heart rate. Normal follow-up procedures after surgery include checking the pacemaker’s setting to make sure the device is working properly. According to a 2006 article in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, malfunctions occur in less that 2 percent of pacemakers.
