SECTION 2
Preparing for your device implant
Your procedure team will explain which device you are receiving, where it will be placed, and how to prepare. Review your instructions before procedure day.
Confirm your plans
- Confirm your arrival time and procedure location.
- Complete any requested blood tests or other testing.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you after discharge. Do not drive for 48 hours after the procedure.
- Ask whether you should expect to go home the same day or stay overnight.
Eating and drinking
Follow your team’s instructions about when to stop eating and drinking. Fasting helps keep you safe during sedation or anesthesia.
Review your medicines
Bring an updated list of prescriptions, supplements, and allergies. Confirm which medicines to take, hold, and restart—especially blood thinners, antiplatelet medicines, and diabetes treatments.
Do not stop these medicines on your own. Your plan depends on your device procedure and medical history.
Preparing your skin
Follow any instructions about showering or using a special cleansing soap. Do not shave the implant area yourself.
Tell your team if you develop a fever, new illness, skin infection, or wound near the planned implant site.
Plan for recovery
For a device placed in the chest, arrange help with lifting, strenuous chores, and activities involving the arm on the implant side.
For a leadless pacemaker, your recovery instructions will focus on the groin access site. Your team will explain the restrictions that apply to your implant.
What to bring
Bring identification, insurance information, your medication list, and comfortable clothing. A loose shirt that opens in the front may be easier to wear after a chest implant.
Updated October 2026. Educational information; your own care plan may differ. Medical illustrations are simplified examples for teaching.