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Voice: (860) 423-5000
FAX: (860) 423-4838


Hours
9 a.m. - 5 p.m
Monday - Friday
Closed on Holidays

Surgeon Dr. Herbert Ridyard doing rounds at Windham Hospital in Willimantic, Connecticut

What we do...

Cardiac Pacemaker Implantation

Cardiac pacemaker (see picture below) implantation surgery is done very commonly at Windham Hospital. Drs. Ridyard and Kloss perform this surgery routinely.

In conjunction with your cardiologist the surgeon makes the decision for a cardiac pacemaker. The indications for a pacemaker include:
  1. Very slow heart beat which causes fainting
  2. A very rapid heart beat which requires strong medication to control. These medicines in turn cause the heart to go to slow.
  3. Fainting related to irregular heart rhythm.
  4. Heart block which keeps the normal signals of the heart from connecting to the proper muscles of the heart.
Typical Cardiac Pacemaker
Cardiac pacemakers have come a very long way in 20 years. These remarkable electronic devices are very small, last anywhere from 7 to 15 years with a single battery, are protected from microwave ovens, cell phone interference and even respond to your own natural activity level! In this way, when you begin to exercise or perform heavy activity, the pacemaker makes your heart beat faster so you have enough blood circulating to keep up with your body's increased demands. Truly these are remarkable electronic devices.

These operations are typically pretty straight forward. They take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. You are heavily sedated so you don't feel any pain during the surgery. The risks of the procedure are very rare. Serious complications are exceedingly rare.

Most patients go home the next day after this surgery and are monitored by their cardiologist. Some of this follow up can even be done over the phone with a special hookup for your phone!

It is great to know you can have such sophisticated and modern cardiac procedures done right here in your own community!

162 Mansfield Avenue       Willimantic, Connecticut 06226