How should I prepare for cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator implantation and what should I be aware of afterwards?

• Before the operation and after the necessary preparatory tests have been completed (ECG, laboratory tests, X-rays etc.) the patient must not eat anything else after midnight.
• The patient should not drink anything for four hours before the operation. Necessary medications must be taken. You will receive the remaining information the day before the operation from the nursing staff and your doctor.
• The patient or a legal representative must sign a consent form for implantation the day before.
• After the operation the patient can eat and drink again right away unless sedatives were given during the operation.
• The sutures do not have to be removed as they are completely beneath the skin and will dissolve. If a different form of wound closure is employed, the sutures or adhesive wound strips should be removed after 10 days by your family doctor, who should also monitor wound healing at regular intervals. If there are wound healing problems, you should attend the cardiac surgery pacemaker outpatient clinic promptly.
• Since the pacemaker leads implanted in the heart have first to grow in firmly (this occurs after 8-12 weeks at the latest), no activities should be carried out in this period that are associated with a major mechanical strain (especially traction) on the leads (for example, lifting heavy objects). However, all ordinary activities are usually possible for patients without any problem. Bed rest for about 24 hours is required directly after the operation.
• A pressure dressing is applied for 24 hours after the operation in order to prevent development of a haematoma.
• To avoid wound infections, no water should get on the wound for 10 days after the operation. If the wound dressing becomes damp, it must be changed.
• The cardiac pacemaker system is checked immediately after the operation and then again for the first time after 1 and 3 months. If there are premature symptoms, you should attend promptly.
• Further check-ups are guided by the patients’ individual requirements (usually every 6 - 12 months).
• After pacemaker implantation, the patient is given a pacemaker card and should always carry it.
• Patients who have received an implantable defibrillator (ICD) must not drive for at least 6 months.