A pacemaker is typically located in the chest, just below the collarbone.
Pacemakers are small electronic devices implanted to regulate heart rhythm, especially when the heart beats too slowly. The implantation procedure involves creating a small pocket, usually on the left side of the chest, just underneath the collarbone. The pacemaker generator is placed in this pocket. Leads from the generator are then threaded through a vein into the heart chambers.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Location: The pacemaker generator is usually placed in the subcutaneous tissue of the chest wall.
- Placement: It's typically positioned either on the left or right side, depending on the patient's anatomy and the physician's preference. The left side is more common.
- Position relative to bone: The device sits beneath the clavicle (collarbone).
- Leads: The leads, which are wires connecting the generator to the heart, are threaded through veins (typically the subclavian or cephalic vein) into the appropriate chamber(s) of the heart.
The exact location can vary slightly depending on the patient's anatomy and the type of pacemaker implanted, but the general area remains consistent.