Few medical innovations have been as transformative as the pacemaker regarding heart matters. This small device, barely the size of a matchbox, can remarkably regulate and normalize a faltering heartbeat, providing a lifeline to countless individuals worldwide.
Where advanced healthcare meets affordability, the cost of pacemakers in India is a significant consideration for those in need of this life-saving technology.
The cost of pacemakers in India ranges from Rs. 2,75,000 to Rs. 3,00,000.
What is a Pacemaker?
The heart can beat too fast, slow, or irregularly during an arrhythmia. Some arrhythmias can be treated with a pacemaker, which is a small battery-operated device. Traditional pacemakers have three parts:
- A generator
- Wires (leads)
- Sensors (electrodes)
Some newer pacemakers are wireless.
What are the Different Types of Pacemakers?
Wireless pacemakers are a newer and smaller alternative to traditional ones. Unlike conventional pacemakers, the pulse generator and electrodes are combined in a single device. Also, the placement of the pacemaker doesn’t require surgery. Instead, it is inserted inside your heart through a catheter (a small tube) via one of your veins. Once it is in place, the pacemaker sends impulses to the right ventricle to regulate your heartbeat.
There are different types of traditional pacemakers:
- Single-lead pacemakers – Use one lead, which is usually placed in the lower right chamber of your heart (right ventricle).
- Dual-lead pacemakers – Uses one lead in the right atrium and one in the right ventricle.
- Biventricular pacemakers [Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)] – Use three leads, which are placed in the right atrium, right ventricle, and left ventricle.
How Does a Pacemaker Work?
Pacemakers help regulate the heartbeat and rhythm of the heart by sending electrical pulses. They can also help the heart chambers beat in sync, which enhances blood circulation throughout the body and is especially useful for people with heart failure.
There are two types of pacemakers:
- Temporary pacemakers – Inserted through a vein in the neck and remain outside the body.
- Permanent pacemakers – Placed in the chest or abdomen, implanted under the skin through a small incision.
The traditional pacemaker is connected to the heart through tiny wires or leads, which are also implanted simultaneously. The impulses flow through these wires to the heart, where the sensors at the end of the wires detect abnormal heartbeats and then deliver electrical impulses to return the heart to its normal rhythm.
The heart’s natural pacemaker sinus node is a small mass of specialized cells at the top of the right atrium. The sinus node produces electrical impulses that beat our heart.
A heart chamber contracts when an electrical impulse or signal moves across it. The signal travels down a specific path to reach the ventricles for the heart to beat correctly.
When the sinus node is defective, the heartbeat may be too fast, slow, or irregular. Rhythm problems may also occur due to a blockage or abnormality of the electrical pathways of the heart.
An artificial pacemaker replaces the heart’s natural pacemaker, which is defective. Most pacemakers work only when they are required. These are known as demand pacemakers.
Demand pacemakers have a sensing device. They shut the pacemaker off if the heartbeat is above a specific rate. If your heartbeat slows down below the rate set by the pacemaker, the sensing device will activate the pacemaker again. The electrodes located at the end of the leads can detect irregular heartbeats and send electrical impulses to return the heart to its normal rhythm.
How Does a Traditional Transvenous Pacemaker Work?
Traditional pacemakers (transvenous pacemakers) have three main parts:
- A pulse generator creates the electrical pulses.
- Wires (leads) are implanted inside the veins, and they carry the pulses to the heart.
- Electrodes sense the natural heartbeat and deliver electrical impulses to the heart to make it beat normally.
Your doctor can receive data remotely from the device to set up your pacemaker for optimal performance. Typically, a pacemaker generator is placed outside your heart, either in your chest or abdomen and connected to electrodes within one to three heart chambers via wires.
- Single- and double-lead pacemakers send electrical pulses to the right side of the heart.
- Biventricular pacemakers send pulses to both ventricles and an atrium. The pulses coordinate electrical signaling between the two ventricles to aid in blood pumping.
Wireless pacemakers
Wireless pacemakers are also known as leadless pacemakers. These are smaller in size than traditional pacemakers. Both pulse generator and electrodes are incorporated into a single device placed inside your heart chamber through a small tube inserted into one of your veins. No surgery is required for this procedure. Once in place, the pacemaker sends pulses to the right ventricle.
Suppose you have a slow heartbeat or an electrical block that causes a delay in the flow of electricity to the heart between the upper and lower chambers. In that case, your doctor may suggest a wireless pacemaker. Depending on the type of pacemaker used, it can sense the right atrium (upper chamber) signals and match it with the ventricle, which helps both chambers beat in sync. This leads to a more efficient and effective function of the heart.
Other types of pacemakers
In other types of pacemakers, the electrodes are placed on the surface of the heart rather than inside the heart. This type of pacemaker requires surgery.
You may need to stay in the hospital for a few hours or overnight to get a pacemaker. After returning home, your doctor may remotely check your pacemaker and schedule regular in-person visits to monitor its activity.
How Long Do Pacemaker Batteries Last?
The pacemakers available nowadays can last as long as 10 or 15 years. It also depends on the specific pacemaker model and how often it has to assist your heart. You will require regular follow-up appointments to check its battery level. It is usually a simpler process to replace a pacemaker battery than implanting the device in the first place.
What is the Cost of a Pacemaker in India?
The cost of a Pacemaker in India is as follows:
- New Delhi – Rs. 2,40,000 to Rs. 4,40,000
- Mumbai – Rs. 2,50,000to Rs. 4,50,000
- Chennai – Rs. 2,60,000 – Rs. 4,75,000
- Bangalore – Rs. 2,30,000 – Rs. 4,60,000
- Hyderabad – Rs. 2,50,000 – Rs. 4,00,000
In Short
Individuals with pacemakers can resume their regular activities within a few days. However, they may need to be cautious around electrical devices that generate strong magnetic fields. Generally, individuals with fewer or less severe health concerns have a better chance of living longer and achieving a normal or near-normal life expectancy.
