Special cells in the heart are in charge of controlling the heart rate. These cells receive stimulation from the various nerves within the body and regulate how fast the heart beats. In some cases, these specialized cells are unable to perform this function properly, and the patient's heart rate decreases to unsafe levels. In these patients, an artificial pacemaker is surgically implanted to regulate the heartbeat, states the American Heart Association. There are side effects and complications associated with pacemaker surgery, and understanding these risks will help patients deal with the procedure and its aftereffects.
Abnormal Heart Rhythms
In rare cases, a patient may experience abnormal heart rhythms after a pacemaker implantation, reports Drugs.com. These patients could have heartbeats that are too fast or too slow. This usually indicates an improperly inserted or malfunctioning pacemaker. These patients may also be suffering from a serious heart condition. In either case, further evaluation by trained cardiologists are needed to prevent further complications. The patient may need to undergo a second surgery to adjust or replace the pacemaker. Symptoms of an abnormal heart rhythm include palpitations, sweating, difficulty breathing, nausea and dizziness.
Infection
To implant the pacemaker, a small incision is made on the upper left anterior portion of the chest, near the shoulder. Though the surgery uses sterile equipment and surgeons focus on keeping the wound clean, there is a possibility of infection of the wound caused by the surgery, according to MayoClinic.com. Doctors usually prescribe prophylactic antibiotics to prevent any infection, but there are some cases of bacterial, viral or even fungal infections of the surgical site. Signs of infection include persistent pain and tenderness at the wound site, redness around the surgical incision and a mild to severe fever. Infections are typically treated with powerful medications that prevent the infective organism from causing further damage to the patient.
Blood Vessel or Nerve Damage
Pacemaker surgery can cause damage to a nearby blood vessel or nerve, states the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The surgeon may accidentally cut a blood vessel or nerve and this can cause severe complications after the surgery. Usually the damage can be repaired, but in some cases the injured vessel or nerve will cause permanent impairment to the patient.
Damage to the Heart
Rarely, a severe side effect of pacemaker surgery could be damage to the heart, according to Drugs.com. The surgeon or the pacemaker itself could puncture the tissues of the heart and cause bleeding. The blood typically accumulates in the non-flexible sac surrounding the heart, which prevents the heart from beating properly. This is a medical emergency and will require prompt surgical evacuation of the blood in order to prevent the patient from dying.
