While the actual surgery to place a pacemaker is a minor procedure, an overnight stay in the hospital is typically required. This is done so that the function of the heart can be closely monitored in the hours after surgery.
You can expect to spend the night in a room that allows your heart to be monitored continuously. You will most likely have four patches on your chest with wires attached to them. This allows staff to monitor your heart’s function, in the form of a continuous EKG, without being in your room.
If the pacemaker is working properly after surgery, you should be able to return home the next day. You will need to care for your incision for several weeks as it closes, monitoring it for signs of infection as well as healing.
You may be able to feel the pacemaker under your skin as the pacemaker is typically placed just below the skin. This area will be sore after surgery, but as time passes the pacemaker should become less noticeable. During your recovery you may want to sleep on your back or side, as the area may be bruised or tender.
