arrythmia

  My father was just released from the hospital.  He has had congestive heart failure for many years.  Over the weekend he suffered two mild heart attacks and has now been diagnosed with arrythmia on top of all his other medical problems (emphezema, diabetes).  The doctors gave him a new medicine to help the arrythmia and have told my mother that if the medication does not work that a pacemaker would be their next step.  My question is how will the arrythmia affect him considering all the other health problems and considering the other health problems is a pacemaker a wise choice?  Thank you for any information you can provide.
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Dear Amelia
Arrhythmias can often be managed well by medicines. Hopefully, this will be the case with your father. Sometimes, the medicines used to treat fast or irregular heart rates can slow down the heart rate too much. In this case, a pacemaker is placed. Pacemaker implantation usually requires no more than an overnight stay in the hospital. The procedure is done under local anesthesia and is generally well tolerated, even by patients who are quite sick. The procedure, as any invasive procedure, carries risks, but most patients do just fine.
I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature.  Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor.  If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.