Your Impact: Thunder Bay 50/50 Funds Temporary Pacemaker for Hospital Patients
Published Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Emily P., RN, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) shows the new pulse generator made possible by proceeds of the Thunder Bay 50/50 Draw.
by Graham Strong
Some people naturally maintain a lower heart rate and blood pressure. Others may develop what's called "bradycardia," a condition characterized by a slower heart rate. This may be due to one or more factors such as heart disease, injury, blocked or delayed electrical signals to the heart, or certain medications.
If your heart rate stays consistently low, it may not be able to pump enough blood to your organs and tissues to deliver the oxygen they need. This condition poses serious risks and can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and potentially heart failure.
Luckily, doctors at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre can insert a pacemaker that stimulates the heart muscle to beat at the right moment if the heart rate gets too low. However, that operation takes planning. Thanks to your purchase of Thunder Bay 50/50 Draw tickets, the Hospital now has another temporary pacemaker, called a pulse generator, to help patients until their real pacemaker can be inserted.
"The pulse generator is a bridge to a permanent pacemaker," said Tiana Veal, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the ICU. "It's an external pacemaker which involves threading wires through a vein, usually in the neck or chest, to the heart, where they are positioned to ensure an effective rhythm."
Similar to a pacemaker, the pulse generator does not continuously send electrical signals. Heart rates vary throughout the day, so patients may only experience a low heart rate from time to time.
"The physician adjusts the rate and sensitivity according to the patient's natural heart rhythm," Veal said. "If the patient's heart rate drops below this set rate, the pulse generator will trigger to initiate a heartbeat."
Patients who need this temporary pacemaker are monitored continuously within the ICU while they are waiting for their permanent pacemaker.
Right now, the Hospital has three pulse generators on hand, based on current need. Veal said that the Hospital might not see a bradycardic patient for a prolonged period before seeing consecutive cases. That's why it's so important to have several on hand. The timely placement of a pulse generator can be critical for saving lives.
The Thunder Bay 50/50 Draw helps fund vital equipment like this at the Health Sciences Centre to ensure our patients have access to the care services they need, right here at home. Your ticket purchases are making a difference! Find out what the Grand Prize is up to today and buy your tickets at: thunderbay5050.ca