Surgery to implant a pacemaker, a small device that helps regulate the heartbeat, is a relatively minor procedure that causes complications in fewer than 5 percent of patients, according to MayoClinic.com. Pacemakers are safely implanted in older people because the elderly are prone to the kind of heart problems that can require a pacemaker. The surgery involves threading wires through the veins to attach them to the heart and then implanting a small device, about the size of a pocket watch, under the collarbone.
Surgical Complications
There is a risk of damage to the blood vessels or the nerves near where the pacemaker is implanted, according to MayoClinic.com. There is also a risk that a lung may collapse during the procedure if it is punctured or that the heart may be punctured, according to MedlinePlus. Sometimes the surgery can cause an abnormal heart rhythm. Other side effects of the surgery include a risk of infection, swelling, bruising, bleeding or an allergic reaction to the anesthesia given during the procedure.
After Surgery
Pacemaker surgery usually requires a short hospital stay of at least a day so the pacemaker can be properly programmed and tested. Typically, patients are advised to avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for about a month after the surgery. There can also be some pain near the collarbone where the pacemaker was implanted, but that is usually treatable with over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen.
Long-Term Risks
Once a patient has recovered from the initial surgery, he should be able to resume normal activities or even increase his activity level. Patients with a pacemaker require regular checkups to insure the device is working properly. The battery of the pacemaker should last five to 10 years, after which another surgery will be needed to replace the device. This procedure is quicker and usually requires less recovery time than the initial implantation because the wire leads to the heart can be left in place. Only the device under the collarbone is replaced.
There is also a risk that the pacemaker will malfunction and need to be replaced or upgraded, which would involve another surgery. Patients have to avoid prolonged or close contact with certain electrical devices or devices that produce a strong magnetic field, including cell phones, some household appliances, high-tension wires, metal detectors, industrial welders, electrical generators, and MRI machines.
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