After Surgery: The First Few Weeks with an Implant

To avoid pain and complications, give your body time to heal by not stretching your arms, by not lifting heavy items, exercising or by intense physical contact during the first couple of days or weeks. Talk to your friends and family beforehand so they can assist you with grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning or washing your hair once you are back home. You may also need to wait a few days or weeks until you are allowed to drive again. We recommend that you let people close to you know ahead of time that you may require a ride to go to your follow-up examination. Also, stocking up on your groceries and preparing meals that you only have to heat up is a good idea. In addition, make sure that you keep your Patient ID card with you when you leave the house.

Always consult your physician if you notice signs such as swelling, reddening or discharge from the implantation site, or if you have a fever that lasts longer than two or three days. Also ask your doctor if you feel dizzy or have chest pain for prolonged periods of time, or if you notice that you are always tired. It may also be helpful to record any unusual symptoms via the BIOTRONIK Patient App or in a diary that you can share with your doctor during your follow-up visit. 

If you are unsure when you can take the first shower, start driving, working or exercising again, your healthcare team will be able to advise you best. Your doctor will also instruct you on which medicines to take and on which medicines to consult with a healthcare professional before taking them. 

Before you are discharged from the hospital, your physician will schedule follow-up appointments to regularly check your health and the implant. The first follow-up appointment is generally four to six weeks after the implantation. During this visit, your physician will ensure that the implantation wound has healed and check your implant’s therapy settings. No incision or surgery is necessary, as an external device is used to program the implant. Your doctor can see all of the device’s settings on a screen and will know, for instance, how long its battery will last. 

As your cardiologist has no insight into the rhythm and therapy delivered by the heart device unless you are at the doctor’s office, there is a risk that changes in your health or suboptimal therapy settings are not identified soon enough before your next follow-up appointment. To allow your physician to monitor these events at all times, BIOTRONIK offers Home Monitoring. With automatic and daily transmissions of your heart’s data, your physician can comprehensively analyze your health and your therapy’s suitability, and schedule additional follow-up appointments as necessary.