Hi. My dad is 87. He is on dialysis 3 days a week, which usually wipes him out. On top of that his heart dr wants to put a pacemaker in. Will it give him more energy? Will it make his heart stronger? The doctor says it will but that doesn't make sense to me. Is a pacemaker put in to help your heart pump or to help when your heart stops? I'm so confused. Any info would surely help. Thanks, Deb
The "helping when your heart stops" bit is when the pacemaker includes a defibrillator. Then, when the muscle in the heart "flutters" instead of contracting properly, the defibrillator shocks it back into its proper rhythm.
This is all very roughly speaking!
But *in any case* your father's cardiologist MUST explain his plan to you properly, and not just send you off with a vague assurance that the pacemaker will make your father's heart stronger.
There is a saying "if you can't explain a thing to your grandmother, you haven't understood it fully." So based on that, your cardiologist can't expect you to trust his advice if he hasn't explained it. He can tell you how the pacemaker he is suggesting works, and how it will help your father's heart.
Assuming his reasons are good (and I do assume that, I don't suppose he'd recommend it otherwise), then improved heart function should also improve your father's kidney function, and your father will benefit. The process of implanting a pacemaker really isn't much to worry about, but ask the cardiologist to explain that to you as well.
The pacemaker, yes, will likely prolong his life. Is that what he wants? Many people STOP dialysis because they do not wish to go on. Doctors will threaten you with "That is a very ugly death". On the contrary. It is not. It is in fact quite quick and easily medicated for comfort.
So your real question is : How much longer does he wish to fight to live. If the answer is that he wants to fight on and finds his life of value enough, then, yes, have the pacer. Today it is an in and out surgery in a day barring complications. I do not know his condition. If he wishes now to receive palliative care only, and to pass peacefully from life, it is time to say that he will have no more procedures and medications and treatments to prolong life.
So this, like most medical procedures is an individual decision. I worked cardiac all my life.
Do know that just occasionally pacers are placed that are automatic defibrillators, in that they give a bit of a shock if the deadly arrhythmia of ventricular fibrillation occurs. Ventricular Fib itself is a fast and merciful death; people who "go down" in the street from it don't have time to even whimper. This type of pacer can deliver a bit of a shock. Some get used to it. Others hate it. This is not the most common pacer.
So discuss this thoroughly with the doctor. If they have no time to discuss it with you then do not consider it. Also get out there on google. As I said, a pacemaker is pretty simple. You will easily understand how they work after they walk you through it on youtube or google. Good luck. Let us know what is decided.
And remember, if a doctor has no time to explain things to you then this is not the doctor nor the procedure for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbHFDZxVrTw