​PACEMAKERS / DEFIBRILLATORS

Pacemakers/Defibrillators may be inserted under general anaesthetic, sedation or local anaesthetic. Each patient is assessed on an individual basis to determine the safest type of anaesthetic. On some occasions, sedation or general anaesthesia may be unsafe to administer in severe underlying heart or lung disease. In this situation local anaesthetic is the safest option.

For these surgeries Dr Vanza performs a nerve block for pain relief. These can be performed after the patient is asleep, and involve placing local anaesthetic near the nerves underneath the collar bone under ultrasound guidance. These nerve blocks provide excellent pain relief in addition to the tablets that may be prescribed.