Table of Contents
What is the pacemaker syndrome?
Pacemaker syndrome is an array of cardiovascular and neurologic signs and symptoms resulting from disruption of appropriate AV synchrony (AV dyssynchrony) caused by suboptimal pacing, inappropriate programming of pacing parameters, or upper-limit behavior of AV synchronous pacing systems.
What are symptoms of pacemaker syndrome?
The symptoms of pacemaker syndrome included dyspnea on exertion, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea, hypotension, pre-syncope, and even syncope [3-5]. Heart failure signs include elevated neck veins, rales, and pedal edema. Physical exam can often reveal cannon A-waves.
What causes pacemaker infection?
Primary infections occur when the device and/or pocket itself is the source of infection, usually as a result of contamination at the time of the implant. Secondary infections, however, are contaminations of the device and the pocket due to bacteria from another source.
What are the symptoms of a pacemaker not working properly?
Chest pain. Frequent or persistent palpitations (the sense that your heart is fluttering or beating fast or hard or irregularly) Slower than usual heart rate compared to your normal. Chest pain with weakness, dizziness, fainting, heavy sweating, nausea, or vomiting.
What are possible complications of a pacemaker?
Risks
- Infection near the site in the heart where the device is implanted.
- Swelling, bruising or bleeding at the pacemaker site, especially if you take blood thinners.
- Blood clots (thromboembolism) near the pacemaker site.
- Damage to blood vessels or nerves near the pacemaker.
- Collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
What causes pacemaker failure?
Pacemaker failure has three causes: (1) failure of capture, (2) lead failure, and (3) generator failure. Failure of capture owing to a defect at the level of the myocardium (i.e., the generator continues to fire but no myocardial depolarization takes place) remains the most difficult problem to treat.
How do you prevent a pacemaker from getting infected?
Efforts to reduce hematoma formation and lead complications requiring early reintervention can reduce the risk of CIED infection. The use of an antibiotic-impregnated mesh envelope during implantation in high-risk individuals may also help to reduce infections.
What happens when a pacemaker dies?
Therefore, it is usually not recommended to discontinue or to take the more invasive step of actually removing the pacemaker. The heart will stop when death occurs. The pacemaker does not prolong life, nor does it cause the heart to continue to beat indefinitely.
How do you know if your pacemaker is not working?
Signs that your pacemaker isn’t working as it should or you have developed an infection or blood clot include:
- breathlessness.
- dizziness.
- fainting.
- prolonged weakness.
- a swollen arm on the side of the pacemaker.
- chest pains.
- prolonged hiccups.
- a high temperature of 38C or above.