The heart has its own electrical system — a network of specialised cells that generate and conduct the impulses that make it beat in the right rhythm at the right rate. When that system fails — whether due to age, disease, or damage from a heart attack — the consequences range from debilitating fatigue and dizziness to sudden loss of consciousness or worse.
Pacemaker implantation in Ahmedabad at EPIC Multispecialty Hospital restores what the heart’s own conduction system can no longer reliably provide.
Our electrophysiology team implants both temporary and permanent pacemakers, as well as more advanced devices including ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators) and CRT (Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy) devices — chosen based on each patient’s specific arrhythmia diagnosis and heart function.
Temporary vs. Permanent Pacemakers — Understanding the Difference
- Temporary pacemaker implantation: Used in acute situations — a patient with complete heart block following a heart attack, significant bradycardia during a cardiac procedure, or a patient awaiting permanent pacemaker implantation. A temporary pacing wire is passed through a vein to the right ventricle and connected to an external device. It’s a bridging treatment, not a long-term solution.
- Single-chamber permanent pacemaker: One lead placed in the right ventricle or right atrium. Used for simpler arrhythmia patterns — typically patients with persistent complete heart block or sinus node dysfunction without significant heart failure.
- Dual-chamber permanent pacemaker: Two leads — one in the right atrium, one in the right ventricle. Allows the pacemaker to coordinate atrial and ventricular contractions, more closely mimicking the heart’s natural rhythm. Suitable for most patients requiring permanent pacing.
- ICD — Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias — ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. An ICD both paces and delivers a shock when a dangerous rhythm is detected. Implantation technique is similar to a pacemaker but the device is more sophisticated.
- CRT — Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy: For patients with heart failure and abnormal electrical conduction causing the two ventricles to contract out of sync. A third lead is placed in the left ventricle to resynchronise contraction, improving cardiac output and quality of life significantly in well-selected patients.
What Pacemaker Implantation at EPIC Hospital Actually Looks Like
Patients are often surprised by how straightforward permanent pacemaker implantation is, relative to what they imagined. It’s performed under local anaesthesia with light sedation — you’re awake but relaxed and comfortable. The procedure itself typically takes 45 to 90 minutes.
A small incision is made below the collarbone, and the pacemaker lead or leads are advanced through the subclavian vein into the right side of the heart under X-ray guidance. Once the lead position is confirmed and pacing threshold measurements are satisfactory, the pacemaker generator is connected and placed in a small pocket beneath the skin. The wound is closed with a few sutures, and you’re transferred to a monitored ward.
Most patients are discharged from EPIC Hospital in Ahmedabad within 24 to 48 hours. The wound heals over 2 weeks, and most people return to normal daily activities within a week. There’s a shoulder movement restriction for the first 4 weeks to allow the leads to embed securely — your cardiologist will explain this specifically.
After implantation, your pacemaker is followed up in our device clinic — initially at 6 weeks, then annually, with remote monitoring available for patients who live outside Ahmedabad or find frequent clinic visits difficult.
Pacemaker Implantation — What Patients Want to Know
Will I feel the pacemaker after implantation?
Most patients are aware of the device for the first few weeks — a slight bulge beneath the skin below the collarbone, occasionally some tenderness at the wound site. Within a few months, the vast majority of people report that they no longer notice it at all in daily life.
Are there restrictions after pacemaker implantation in Ahmedabad?
The main early restriction is arm movement on the side of the implant — avoiding raising the arm above shoulder height for the first 4 weeks. After that, most normal activities including exercise are permitted. MRI-conditional pacemakers — which allow safe MRI scanning with precautions — are now our standard implant wherever appropriate.
How long does a permanent pacemaker battery last?
Modern pacemaker batteries typically last 8 to 12 years, depending on how frequently the pacemaker needs to pace and the device settings. When the battery approaches end-of-life, a generator change is performed — a simpler procedure than the original implant, as the leads are retained.
Is emergency pacemaker implantation available at EPIC Hospital?
Yes. Patients presenting with symptomatic bradycardia or complete heart block — confusion, fainting, low heart rate — are assessed and can have temporary pacing initiated within minutes of arrival. Permanent pacemaker implantation is then planned on an urgent or semi-urgent basis.
Pacemaker Implantation in Ahmedabad — Trust the EPIC Team
Whether you need a temporary pacemaker during an acute cardiac admission or a permanent device to manage a long-term rhythm problem, pacemaker implantation in Ahmedabad at EPIC Multispecialty Hospital is performed by an experienced team with the full range of device expertise.
Book a device consultation online, call our electrophysiology team today, WhatsApp your Holter or ECG reports for an initial review, or visit EPIC Hospital in Ahmedabad — and give your heart’s rhythm the support it needs.
Emergency Services
Our dedicated emergency team is available 24/7 to provide immediate medical care and support in critical situations.
