What is the Pacemaker Surgery Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Underwent?

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge successfully underwent a procedure to have a pacemaker implanted, his son and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said. The 83-year-old leader was admitted to the hospital earlier in the week after complaining of breathlessness. Priyank said that his father's condition is stable, and he is doing well. “Sri Kharge was advised to be implanted and is admitted to the hospital for the planned procedure. He is stable and doing well. Grateful to all of you for your concern and wishes," he wrote in a post on X. Priyank said doctors had advised a pacemaker because of age-related issues and breathlessness. “They had said that it is needed for heart rate stabilisation. Other than that, there is no problem. The procedure has

been done. Everything is okay and stable. There is no need for anyone to worry. With the blessings and wishes of the people, he (Kharge) has no other problem," he said.

What is pacemaker surgery?

Pacemakers are devices that can be placed in your body through surgery to support the electrical system in your heart. According to doctors, they stabilize abnormal heart rhythms and prevent problems that can disrupt or endanger your life. Since your heart has its own electrical system, it tells the heart’s chambers when it’s their turn to squeeze. When your heart’s electrical system malfunctions, it may squeeze in the wrong order or squeeze too weakly to provide enough blood to your body. Pacemakers use electrical impulses to correct these kinds of malfunctions.

What are the conditions treated by pacemakers?

Doctors say the conditions that are treatable with a pacemaker include:

• Heart arrhythmias are malfunctions of your heart’s normal beating process.
• Disruptions of your heart’s electrical system, such as blockage
• Heart failure
• History of heart attack

Signs you need a pacemaker

A few signs that you may need a pacemaker include: Talking to your doctor about concerns or symptoms is the first step to determining if you have health problems that can be treated with a pacemaker. Some of the reasons why you may need a pacemaker include:

• Chest pain
• Tachycardia or unusual heartbeat
• Bradycardia or slow heartbeat
• Irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia
• Heart palpitations
• Breathlessness
• Unexplained dizziness or lightheadedness
• Unexplained confusion
• Swelling in your ankles, legs, and abdomen
• Needing to urinate many times at night

What kind of surgery does a pacemaker need?

Doctors say the surgery for a pacemaker happens depending on the type of pacemaker used – and that would include you undergoing a catheter-based, vein-based, or surgical-based approach. Advances in surgical knowledge mean these procedures have been refined to make the entire procedure painless and ensure faster recovery.

Catheter-based approach

It is used with leadless pacemakers, which only treat conditions that involve a single chamber of your heart. A catheter is injected into an artery and is threaded up to your heart.

Veinous approach

It is frequently used in adults, where doctors make a small incision to access a vein near the heart. Lead wires are threaded through the vein and are attached to a point on your heart.

Surgical-based approach

A small incision is created in your chest and a lead is attached through your heart, which is later connected to he pacemaker.