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Treat an Arrhythmia With a Pacemaker in Arizona

If you have an arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat), your doctor may recommend a pacemaker to keep your heart beating normally and to prevent complications.

 

At Dignity Health, our surgeons perform life-changing pacemaker surgery in Arizona to restore normal heart rhythms and help people live healthier, more normal lives. The most common reasons for needing a pacemaker are bradycardia (a slower-than-normal heartbeat) and a blockage in the heart’s electrical pathway. Other reasons include heart failure, birth defects, a heart transplant, or skipped heartbeats. 

Partner with the experts at Dignity Health to keep your heart working its best. Call 1.855.231.6180 or Find a Doctor online to schedule an appointment with one of our cardiac specialists and create a plan. You can also take our HeartAware Risk Assessment to learn more about your personal heart health.

 

What to Expect With Pacemaker Surgery at Dignity Health

Surgery to install a pacemaker will be performed by an experienced cardiac surgeon at a Dignity Health hospital. The procedure typically lasts a few hours. You may need to stay overnight in the hospital to ensure everything is working properly. 

A pacemaker contains two main parts — wires connected to electrodes on the heart and a small internal pulse generator. During pacemaker surgery, your surgeon threads the wires of the pacemaker through a vein to your heart and connects them. The electrodes will be in constant contact with your heart. Most people have the pulse generator placed within the wall of their chest.

 

Life After Pacemaker Surgery

Depending on your age and overall health, you may need to take it easy for a few days after your surgery. Your doctor may have you avoid strenuous activity or heaving lifting for a month. The battery in a pacemaker often lasts for up to 10 years. When you need a replacement, it will be performed as an outpatient procedure. After your initial follow-up visit, your doctor may be able to manage your pacemaker remotely, using a cellphone or radiofrequency technology.

Talk with your doctor about any precautions you should take around electrical devices that could disrupt your pacemaker. These include: 

  • Cell phones: Do not put the phone against your chest.
  • Medical equipment: MRI or therapeutic radiation could disrupt the device.
  • Power-generating equipment: Stay at least two feet away from electrical generators, high-voltage transformers, industrial welders, etc.
  • Metal detection equipment: Your pacemaker may set off the alarm, so ask the security officer for an alternative form of personal search.

Be sure to let all of your health care providers know that you have a pacemaker. Carry a medical ID card or bracelet that says you have a pacemaker.

Cardiac surgeons at Dignity Health offer advanced surgical procedures for people that need a pacemaker in Arizona as part of our cardiology services.