Cardiac Generator Replacement: Care at Home

Your child received a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) battery or generator replacement. Follow the directions below to care for your child.

Incision Care

• Leave dressing in place for 48 hours.
• Steri-Strips® or Dermabond® will dress the incision. This part of the dressing will fall off on its own. Do not peel or pull off.

• Do not submerge, swim, or soak incision for 3-4 weeks.

• Showers and bathing can start 2 days after surgery with gauze dressing off. If bathing, keep water below the belly button to ensure the water does not soak the incision.

• Use clean water to squeeze soapy wash cloth or sponge over incision site.
• Do not rub incision Steri-Strips® or Dermanond®.
• Wash area around incision normally.
• Pat surgical incision dry.
• At both ends of the incision, suture strings will be trimmed at your clinic incision checkup with your cardiologist or primary care doctor.
• Itching is normal when healing. Do not scratch. Wearing a T-shirt tucked in or onesie may help to keep hands away from incision.
• Do not use scented soaps, creams, or ointments until the incision is healed.

Activity

• Let your child ease back to activity as tolerated.
• Do not bike until the incision is healed.
• Light contact gym & park play is okay to participate in until incision has healed.
• If you have an incision under the clavicle for the generator pocket; no backpacks, shoulder purses, or lifting greater than 10 pounds  (1 gallon of milk) for 4 weeks. 

• Return to school/work 2-3 days after surgery if pain is well controlled with acetaminophen or ibuprofen and activity level has returned to normal.

Home Medications

• Acetaminophen is used for mild pain and can be given scheduled for the first 24-48 hours.
• A narcotic can be prescribed only for severe pain. If a narcotic is required for pain control, a stool softener may be needed for a few days to prevent constipation.
• Rest and relaxation should always be the first line of pain control. Ice packs may be helpful.
• Scheduled medicines, including anticoagulants, can be restarted in the evening after surgery.

When should I call the cardiologist?

• New onset of pain or pain not improving with rest and medication.
• New onset palpitation.
• Increase swelling, warmth, redness, bruising, or pain around surgery site.
• Drainage from incision or poor healing.
• Fever higher than 101°F (38°C) by mouth.
• Breathing faster or harder.
• Dizziness or fainting.
• Pale or bluish color.
• Unusual cough.
• Not urinating at least every 8 hours.
• Repeated vomiting.

Follow Up

• Generator interrogation transmitter checkups every 3 months from home.
• Postoperative appointment in 7-10 days.  Incision will be checked and sutures trimmed.

Questions?

This information is not specific to your child. If you have questions, please contact Children's Heart Clinic at

1-800-938-0301.

March 2022

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