If the heart's warning center is unable to generate a warning at a sufficient rate, or if the heart rate is too slow to be delivered to the lower centers,the pacemakers placed in the body are required to provide the heart rate so that the patient can maintain normal life.The procedure is usually performed by local anesthesia, placing the thin wires called electrodes through the large vasculature of the heart or the heart into the heart,and attaching it to a generator outside the body. This process can be done at bedside or under x-ray machine. The process usually takes 20-30 minutes.
When the temporary battery requirement is removed, the wire inserted into the heart is removed.