A pocket is formed under the skin of the upper chest. The pacemaker is then connected to its leads. Most pacemaker surgery is done under local anesthesia. Additional medicine may be given in an IV to help the patient relax. The procedure typically takes 1 to 1 hours.
All surgical procedures contain risks.
These should be discussed with a physician. Once the pacemaker is implanted, it is important that the patient be followed by a pacemaker clinic or a commercial group that specializes in pacemaker follow-up. The physician implanting the pacemaker should help the patient arrange appropriate follow-up. Pacemaker follow-up is usually done on a defined schedule. The schedule may vary depending on who is in charge of following or checking the pacemaker.