A pacemaker, or artificial heart rhythm driver, is a device that can monitor heart rate and increase it when necessary by generating electrical signals. If for any reason the natural heart muscle contraction rate is insufficient for full blood circulation (as in the case of bradycardia, for example), the pacemaker sends impulses to the heart and makes it contract more frequently.
Our clinic's specialists perform minimally invasive surgeries for the implantation and replacement of pacemakers, which are favorably distinguished by price, quality, and reliability. The devices implanted by our cardiac surgeons last long, do not break, are equipped with additional functionality, and allow for an active lifestyle.
Method of Implantation and Replacement of Pacemakers
Typical pacemaker implantation is performed under local anesthesia – the patient receives only a sedative to feel comfortable during the procedure. The pacemaker (more precisely, its main part – the generator block, which is a rectangular container housing batteries, the generator itself, and electronic chips) is implanted under the skin in the left side of the chest, in a sort of "pocket," where the patient will carry it until the power elements in the device begin to deplete and replacement is needed. Usually, it takes several years for the batteries in the pacemaker's generator block to start discharging.
One or more electrodes – flexible insulated thin wires – are connected to the generator block. The electrodes are brought to the heart through a large vein. For this, a small incision is made through which a catheter is used to insert the electrode into the blood vessel. It is guided to the heart wall. The procedure is monitored using intraoperative X-ray.
The entire process of pacemaker implantation takes from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.
After the pacemaker is implanted, a check of its operation is mandatory. A specialist, using a special device – a programmer – adjusts the pacemaker and ensures that the device is functioning correctly.
Once every 1-2 years, patients with an implanted pacemaker must undergo a scheduled ECG examination. It is also necessary to periodically check the operation of the pacemaker (usually every 6 months). During this procedure, the device's sensitivity to reduced heart activity, the condition of the electrodes, and other indicators are checked.
Over time, the charge of the batteries in the pacemaker begins to deplete. Modern pacemakers do not operate continuously – they send electrical impulses to the heart only when necessary. Therefore, the battery consumption in them is significantly more economical. Depending on the individual's health condition, the battery discharge time of the pacemaker can range from five years and longer. The batteries in the device are not removed – they are replaced along with the generator block.
Replacement of the Pacemaker
When the battery charge begins to run low, the pacemaker notifies the doctor during the next check. After that, the specialist plans the time for the procedure, which is usually performed on an outpatient basis, under local anesthesia, and lasts less than 1 hour.
Typically, when replacing a pacemaker, only the generator block is removed, and the electrodes are changed only if they are damaged or have other related issues. During the replacement of the control block, the surgeon makes an incision in the subcutaneous "pocket," removes the old block, replaces it with a new one, and connects it to the old electrodes.
Replacing the pacemaker block is a very routine and safe procedure. Arne Larsson, the first patient in the world with an implanted pacemaker, had the device replaced more than 25 times in total. Modern pacemakers have a much longer lifespan than those implanted in Arne, so they need to be replaced significantly less often.
In rare cases (less than 1% of all implanted pacemakers), it is necessary to replace not the generator block but the electrodes – for example, if they become infected or damaged. Removing the old electrode and replacing it with a new one, unlike replacing the generator block, is a rather complex process. The surgeon must have extensive experience to extract the electrode head from the heart wall without damaging the heart tissue. If necessary, scar tissue at the electrode insertion site in the heart wall can be removed using a laser. At the final stage of the operation, the electrode is extracted from the vein like a catheter and replaced with a new one. The electrode replacement procedure is performed under general anesthesia and lasts several hours.
Implantation and replacement of pacemakers in Israel, according to patient reviews, is performed with very high quality. At Top Ichilov clinic, even for the replacement of pacemaker electrodes – the most complex and time-consuming procedure – several minimally invasive techniques are used, allowing for the extraction and replacement of pacemaker components with minimal risk of complications.
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Implantation and Replacement of Pacemakers in Israel – Prices
Implantation and replacement of pacemakers in Israel are more cost-effective than similar procedures performed in clinics in European countries and the United States. Of course, in each individual case, the cost varies – it all depends on the type of pacemaker, the method of its installation, and the number of electrodes. But in any case, compared to clinics in other countries with developed healthcare systems, the implantation and replacement of pacemakers in Israel costs at least 30-50% less while maintaining the same high quality of the operation and reliability of the device.
Advantages of Implantation at Top Ichilov Center
- The implantation of pacemakers at Top Ichilov Center is performed by true professionals – many of our cardiologists have defended their candidate and doctoral dissertations, hold a master's degree in medical sciences, or teach at higher educational institutions in Israel. By entrusting your health to them, you can expect complete safety and high efficiency of all procedures related to the implantation or replacement of a pacemaker.
- The devices implanted at our medical center can not only change the rhythm of heart contractions but can also record electrocardiogram data and capture heart performance parameters at the moment of delivering an electrical impulse. This data assists the cardiologist in subsequent diagnostics.
- Practically no complications after implantation. In clinics in countries with poorly developed healthcare, cases of pacemaker infection and electrode damage are not uncommon, leading to the need for repeat surgery. Top Ichilov Center is renowned for the quality of medical services provided and the reliability of the installed pacemakers.
- The pacemakers implanted by our clinic's specialists have design features that protect the devices from remote hacking by malicious actors. The fact is that each pacemaker can be reprogrammed – this capability is built into the device from the outset so that the doctor can adjust it remotely if necessary. However, in the age of modern technology, when the number of crimes in the field of information security is steadily increasing, pacemakers can become targets for malicious actors. A person familiar with the technical features of the device can remotely influence it or read its data. To prevent such possibilities, Top Ichilov Center uses only the latest models of pacemakers that are protected against unauthorized access.
- All issues related to organizing the procedure, interacting with doctors, and solving everyday problems are handled by the clinic's provided curator-translator – an employee of the international department.
Implantation and replacement of pacemakers in Israel, as patient reviews eloquently testify, is gaining increasing popularity on an international scale.