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Avatar universal

pace maker

my father is 93 years old and have a cronic complaint of dizziness. all his pyhsical is normal except his heart rate is low 57 beats per minutes. His dr said the dizziness was due to old age and the heart does not pump enough blood anymore. his dr said the solution is to put a pace maker. my question is what is the risk benefit ratio for him of his age? thank you.
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Avatar universal
If your father's doc thinks that your Dad needs a pacer, then do it.  I just attended a birthday party for a 98 year old man who received a pacer when he was 92.  Frank is a retired school superintendent and quite active because his pacer has given him is QOL back.  In fact, Frank just renewed his driver's license and it is good for five more years.

I am 61 and had a dual lead pacer implanted when I was in my 50s and recently changed out the pacer and had a second one implanted.  The initial surgery was not long.  With your father's age, the doc will weigh the risks of placing him under sedation.  In both my pacer surgeries, I had conscientious sedation; not a general sedation.  They may do that for your dad.  

My pacer has given me a new lease on life.  I just retired after a long career in school administration (principal of middle school).  Without the pacer, my life would have taken a different route.  I am able to do many things... go to the gym, sail on the San Francisco Bay, travel extensively, visit with friends and family, etc.  The pacer gave me new energy.  There are certain things that I cannot do because I have a pacer: work a jackhammer, weld... but I've never done those things when I did not have a pacer so I am not missing anything in my book.

Talk to the doctor and find out the pros and cons.  There is a great life on a pacer. Just remember my friend, Frank.
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1137980 tn?1281285446
If it were my dad i would weigh out the options because of his advanced age of 93 and then would ask the doctor what the risk factors are of my dad having the procedure done because it is pretty invasive.  You could always scroll to the top of your screen and click on forums and go to the "ask a doctor" site and post your question and ask what their opinion is of implanting a pacemaker at 93....i think it is a very personal decision to make and obviously his ejection fraction is getting pretty low if the doc made that statement...sometimes we have to weigh things out and ask ourselves if the risk is worth the end result...good luck skenjong......
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Avatar universal
this is a sign of heart failure, the heart is unable to pump blood around the body, a pacemmaker will just help the heart beat regulary
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