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Risks

By Mayo Clinic staff

Heart-Healthy Living

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Complications from having surgery to implant your pacemaker are uncommon, but could include:

  • Infection where the pacemaker was implanted
  • Allergic reaction to the dye or anesthesia used during your procedure
  • Swelling, bruising or bleeding at the generator site, especially if you are taking blood thinners
  • Damage to your blood vessels or nerves near the pacemaker
  • Collapsed lung
  • Puncture of your heart muscle, which can lead to bleeding into the lining (pericardium) of your heart and may require emergency medical care

Life-threatening complications of pacemaker implantation are rare.

How you prepare Why it's done
References
  1. Tracy CM, et al. 2012 ACCF/AHA/HRS focused update of the 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities — A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2012;144:e27.
  2. What is a pacemaker? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pace/. Accessed Jan. 29, 2013.
  3. What is a pacemaker? American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300451.pdf. Accessed Jan. 29, 2013.
  4. How the healthy heart works. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/AboutCongenitalHeartDefects/How-the-Healthy-Heart-Works_UCM_307016_Article.jsp. Accessed Jan. 26, 2013.
  5. Fuster V, ed., et al. Hurst's The Heart. 13th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=5. Accessed Jan. 28, 2013.
  6. Goldberger AL, et al. Clinical Electrocardiography: A simplified approach. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2013. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-08786-5..C2010-0-67269-5&isbn=978-0-323-08786-5&uniqId=402077730-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-08786-5..C2010-0-67269-5--TOP. Accessed Jan. 29, 2013.
  7. Saxon LA, et al. Overview of cardiac pacing in heart failure. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Jan. 29, 2013.
  8. McKean SC, et al. Principles and Practice of Hospital Medicine. New York, N.Y: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=749. Accessed Jan. 25, 2013.
  9. Lampert R, et al. HRS Expert Consensus Statement on the Management of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs) in patients nearing end of life or requesting withdrawal of therapy. 2010;7:1008.
  10. Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 17, 2013.
MY00276 April 17, 2013

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