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5-378.bd:

Rhythm surgery and other operations on heart and pericardium: Removal, replacement and correction of a heart pacemaker and defibrillator: Switch of system from heart pacemaker to heart pacemaker, defibrillator or intracardiac pulse generator: Heart pacemaker to defibrillator with subcutaneous electrode

Your heart pacemaker has been replaced by a defibrillator.

A pacemaker is composed of a housing with a battery and one or more long cables. The housing is located on the right or left side of the ribcage under the skin. The ends of the cables are located at certain points in the heart. A pacemaker can release electric current from the heart and thus trigger the heartbeat. Thanks to the pacemaker, the heart should beat regularly at a normal pace.

The particularly small heart pacemaker is designed differently to other heart pacemakers. It is shaped like a normal battery and only a few centimeters long. The heart pacemaker is pushed to the heart through a major blood vessel in the groin. The device is then attached to the heart itself. A pacemaker can release electric current from the heart and thus trigger the heartbeat. Thanks to the pacemaker, the heart should beat regularly at a normal pace.

A defibrillator is composed of a housing with a battery and one or more long cables. The housing is usually located on the left side of the ribcage under the skin. The ends of the cables are located at certain points in the heart. A defibrillator can give off very strong electric current to the heart in an emergency. If the heart is beating very fast for instance, it may not be able to pump blood properly anymore. Thanks to a current surge, the heart should beat regularly at a normal pace.

Additional indicator

If necessary, additional letters are appended to OPS codes to indicate which side of the body is affected.

  • L: Left
  • R: Right
  • B: Both sides

Further information

Note

Your doctor will assist you with any health-related questions and explain the OPS code to you in a direct consultation if necessary.

Source

Provided by the non-profit organization “Was hab’ ich?” gemeinnützige GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).