It is essential to check the state of the pacemaker at regular intervals.
Follow-up appointments at the pacemaker clinic are usually made every
3-12 months depending on the type of pacemaker and its previous
performance. By analysing the discharge rate of the pacemaker, measuring
the strength of the electrical impulse and recording the effects of the impulse
on the heart, any fault can be detected. Some sophisticated modern
pacemakers can self-analyse the state of the battery and the performance of
the generator. This information is retrieved from the pacemaker by
electromagnetic signals transmitted from the pacemaker (telemetry).
Conclusion
Although it is difficult to ignore a pacemaker altogether yet patients are
encouraged to forget their dependency on this kind of device. Modern
pacemaker systems are extremely reliable and the patient can be confident
that with appropriate and careful follow-up very little can go wrong.