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Pacemaker

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Helping control abnormal heart rhythms

Expert Heart & Vascular Care

Getting the care you need starts with seeing one of our heart or vascular specialists.

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A pacemaker is a small device implanted in your chest that helps control various types of heart rhythm disorders. Traditional pacemakers, which weigh about an ounce, include a pulse generator, which produces electrical energy to control heartbeats. That energy travels along one or more leads, which are connected to the heart’s muscle. The electrical energy causes the heart to beat.

Our Electrophysiology Program is the mid-Atlantic region’s leading referral program for patients with heart rhythm disorders. Our advanced lab lets us treat and manage even the most complex cases.

What to expect during pacemaker implantation

Graphic of a male torso with a pacemaker in the heartDepending on your condition, you may be a candidate for a leadless pacemaker, which goes directly into the heart. Learn more about leadless pacemakers.

If you’re receiving a traditional pacemaker, you and your doctor will discuss any medications you take and whether you should keep taking them before the procedure. On the day of your procedure, you’ll receive an IV line so we can give you medication. We’ll clean your chest and shave it if necessary. You’ll receive local anesthesia to numb the surgical area, along with a sedative to help you relax.

The doctor will make an incision on your chest. The doctor will then put the lead or leads in place in your heart and connect them to the pulse generator, which the doctor will implant in a pocket of skin (usually in the upper chest). We’ll test your pacemaker to make sure it’s working properly.

The procedure usually lasts a few hours. Afterward, you’ll need to tell medical personnel, airport security professionals and others in areas with electromagnetic energy that you have a pacemaker. Your doctor will go over specific details with you. It’s also a good idea to carry a card with you stating that you have a pacemaker.

Electrophysiology Program

We are leaders in developing and using the latest procedures and technologies to treat heart rhythm disorders, and our cardiac electrophysiology laboratory is one of the most sophisticated in North America.

Learn More

Conditions

Arrhythmia (Heart Rhythm Disorders)

An arrhythmia is an abnormal or irregular heartbeat caused by a disturbance in the electrical impulses that coordinate your heart rate. This can cause your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly.

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a type of arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) in which the heart’s two upper chambers do not beat in sync with the two lower chambers.

Bradycardia

Bradycardia is a type of abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) in which the heart beats slower than 60 times a minute.

Fainting (Syncope)

Syncope, commonly called fainting, is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a drop in blood flow to the brain.

Heart Block

Heart block, also known as atrioventricular (AV) block, is a partial or total blockage of the electrical signal that controls the heartbeat.

Sarcoidosis (Cardiac)

Sarcoidosis causes lumps to form in your heart, lungs or lymph nodes and can damage these organs.

Short QT Syndrome (SQTS)

Short QT syndrome is a disruption of the heart’s electrical activity that causes the recharge time between heartbeats to become too short.

Sick Sinus Syndrome

Sick sinus syndrome is a malfunction of the heart’s sinus node, which controls heart rhythms. This causes the heart to beat too quickly or too slowly or leads to long pauses between heartbeats.

Tachycardia

Tachycardia is a type of abnormal heart rhythm in which the heart beats much faster than it should while a person is at rest.

Tachycardia-Bradycardia Syndrome

Tachy-brady syndrome is a type of irregular heartbeat in which the heart fluctuates between beating too quickly and too slowly.

Tests

Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.

Electrophysiology Testing

Electrophysiology testing is used to evaluate the cause and location of an abnormal heartbeat (known an an arrhythmia).

Event Monitors

An event monitor is a small device that records the heart’s electrical activity. It’s similar to an electrocardiogram, but where an electrocardiogram takes place over a few minutes, an event monitor measures heart rhythms over a much longer time.

Holter Monitors

A Holter monitor is a small device that records the heart’s electrical activity. It’s similar to an electrocardiogram, but whereas an electrocardiogram records over a few minutes, a Holter monitor records over the course of a day or two.

Stress Tests

Stress tests are used to assess how your heart works during physical activity. There are several types of stress tests, including treadmill or bike stress tests, nuclear stress tests, stress echocardiograms and chemically induced stress tests.

Tilt Table Test

Tilt table testing allows your doctor to determine the cause of explained fainting while monitoring changes in your blood pressure and heart rate while tilted at different angles.

Physicians

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33 Doctors & Specialists
Dr. Margaret B. Fischer, MD
Dr. Margaret B. Fischer, MD
Electrophysiology | Adult Congenital Cardiac Disease
(303)
3020 Hamaker Court Suite 502 Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 208-7257
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Dr. Benjamin B. Kenigsberg, MD
Dr. Benjamin B. Kenigsberg, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Room 4B-1 Washington, DC 20010
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Dr. Kevin Grant Handy, MD
Dr. Kevin Grant Handy, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
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Dr. Sunjeet Singh Sidhu, MD
Dr. Sunjeet Singh Sidhu, MD
Electrophysiology | Internal Medicine
3001 South Hanover Street Gruehn Bldg Ste 301 Baltimore, MD 21225
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Dr. Edward V. Platia, MD
Dr. Edward V. Platia, MD
Electrophysiology
(163)
110 Irving Street Northwest 5th Floor Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7685
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Dr. Chadi Tanios Abouassaly, MD
Dr. Chadi Tanios Abouassaly, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Room 4B39 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Zayd Adnan Eldadah, MD, PhD
Dr. Zayd Adnan Eldadah, MD, PhD
Electrophysiology
(392)
3800 Reservoir Road Northwest Washington, DC 20007
(202) 877-7685
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Dr. Pamela M. Paufler, MD
Dr. Pamela M. Paufler, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Walter L. Atiga, MD
Dr. Walter L. Atiga, MD
Electrophysiology
8640 Sudley Road Suite 302 Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 208-7257
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Dr. David A. Strouse, MD
Dr. David A. Strouse, MD
Electrophysiology
(375)
3020 Hamaker Court Suite 502 Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 208-7257
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Dr. Stephen M. Luczycki, MD
Dr. Stephen M. Luczycki, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Sarfraz A. Durrani, MD
Dr. Sarfraz A. Durrani, MD
Electrophysiology
(356)
3020 Hamaker Court Suite 502 Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 208-7257
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Dr. Alena Lira, MD
Dr. Alena Lira, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Alexander I. Papolos, MD
Dr. Alexander I. Papolos, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Michael J. Hockstein, MD
Dr. Michael J. Hockstein, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Michael S. Goldstein, MD
Dr. Michael S. Goldstein, MD
Electrophysiology
(394)
2002 Medical Parkway Suite 500 Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 573-6480
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Dr. Jay Aaron Mazel, MD
Dr. Jay Aaron Mazel, MD
Electrophysiology
(325)
18101 Prince Philip Drive Suite 4100 Olney, MD 20832
(202) 416-2000
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Dr. Seth J. Worley, MD
Dr. Seth J. Worley, MD
Electrophysiology
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7685
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Dr. Arthur C. St. Andre, MD
Dr. Arthur C. St. Andre, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Cyrus A. Hadadi, MD
Dr. Cyrus A. Hadadi, MD
Electrophysiology
505 Bryn Street Cambridge, MD 21613
(202) 877-7685
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Dr. Akram M. Zaaqoq, MD
Dr. Akram M. Zaaqoq, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
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Dr. Athanasios Thomaides, MD
Dr. Athanasios Thomaides, MD
Electrophysiology
(286)
3800 Reservoir Road Northwest 5th Floor Washington, DC 20007
(301) 877-5677
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Dr. Brian George Lee, MD
Dr. Brian George Lee, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Alexandra Kristina Pratt, MD
Dr. Alexandra Kristina Pratt, MD
Critical Care Medicine
110 Irving Street Northwest Room 4B-42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Seife Yohannes, MD
Dr. Seife Yohannes, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Nimesh Satish Shah, MD
Dr. Nimesh Satish Shah, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Room 4B Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Rafique Ahmed, MD
Dr. Rafique Ahmed, MD
Electrophysiology
(151)
9105 Franklin Square Drive WHITE SQUARE PROF BLDG Rosedale, MD 21237
410-554-6727
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Dr. Manish H. Shah, MD
Dr. Manish H. Shah, MD
Electrophysiology
(299)
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 5A-14 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7685
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Dr. Susan O'Donoghue, MD
Dr. Susan O'Donoghue, MD
Electrophysiology
(251)
110 Irving Street Northwest Room 5A-12 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7685
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Dr. Sung W. Lee, MD
Dr. Sung W. Lee, MD
Electrophysiology
7501 Surratts Road Suite 304 Clinton, MD 20735
301-877-5677
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Dr. Jennifer Yu, MD
Dr. Jennifer Yu, MD
Cardiac Critical Care
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite 4B42 Washington, DC 20010
(202) 877-7259
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Dr. Glenn Robert Meininger, MD
Dr. Glenn Robert Meininger, MD
Electrophysiology
(182)
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
410-554-6727
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Dr. David J. Schamp, MD
Dr. David J. Schamp, MD
Electrophysiology
(151)
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
410-554-6727
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MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
5601 Loch Raven Boulevard GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPTIAL Baltimore, MD 21239
(443) 444-4100
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201 East University Parkway Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-2266
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MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
9000 Franklin Square Drive Baltimore, MD 21237
(443) 777-7900
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MedStar St. Mary's Hospital
25500 Point Lookout Road MedStar St Mary's Hospital Leonardtown, MD 20650
(301) 475-8981
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MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street Northwest Washington, DC 20010
202-877-3627
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MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Road Northwest MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Washington, DC 20007
(202) 342-2400
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MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
18101 Prince Philip Drive MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney, MD 20832
(301) 570-7404
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MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center
7503 Surratts Road MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Clinton, MD 20735
(301) 877-4367
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