Leadless pacemakers
A leadless pacemaker is a self-contained pacemaker about the size of a large vitamin capsule that is placed inside the heart through a vein in the leg.
Read the guide
Procedures · Dubai
Pacemaker implantation in Dubai
A pacemaker is a small device placed under the skin below the collarbone that stops the heart from beating too slowly. One or two thin wires (leads) connect it to the heart. Dr Shady Habboush, who led a cardiac device department and pacemaker unit in Germany, implants and follows up pacemakers at Saudi German Hospital Dubai.
Dr Shady HabboushConsultant Interventional Cardiology · Saudi German Hospital Dubai3 min read3 sourcesMedically reviewed against ESC and NHS guidance
01
Who it is for
- A slow heart rate (bradycardia) that causes dizziness, fainting, tiredness or breathlessness
- Heart block, where the electrical signal between the upper and lower chambers is delayed or interrupted
- Sick sinus syndrome, where the heart's natural pacemaker fires irregularly or pauses
- Some people with heart failure, who may need a CRT device instead (see ICD and CRT)
Risks and alternatives
Risks include bleeding or bruising, infection of the device pocket, a lead moving out of position and, rarely, a collapsed lung or puncture of the heart. A leadless pacemaker avoids leads and a pocket and suits some people. If a slow rhythm is caused by medicines or another treatable cause, a pacemaker may not be needed at all.
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What happens, step by step
- 01
Tests come first: an ECG and often rhythm monitoring over a day or longer, to link symptoms with a slow rhythm.
- 02
On the day, the area below the collarbone is numbed with local anaesthetic, and sedation may be offered.
- 03
The lead or leads are guided through a vein into the heart under X-ray.
- 04
The pacemaker is connected and placed in a small pocket under the skin, and the wound is closed.
- 05
The device is tested and programmed before you leave the room. The procedure often takes about an hour.
03
Recovery and what to expect
Many people stay in hospital overnight, and some go home the same day. You will be given a device card.
For about 4 to 6 weeks, avoid raising the elbow on the pacemaker side above shoulder height, and avoid heavy lifting and vigorous exercise, so the leads can settle. There are driving rules after a pacemaker; you will be told when you can drive again.
Device checks are needed regularly, in clinic or by remote monitoring. Most daily activities, including mobile phones held to the opposite ear and household appliances, are fine.
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Questions about this
When is a pacemaker needed?
When the heart beats too slowly or pauses and this causes symptoms such as dizziness, fainting or tiredness, or when tests show a type of heart block that carries risk. The decision is based on an ECG and rhythm monitoring.
Is it a big operation?
It is usually done under local anaesthetic and often takes about an hour. It still has risks, which are explained before you decide.
Can I travel and go through airport security?
Yes. Show your device card. Walk through the security arch normally and ask staff not to hold a hand-held wand over the device for long.
How long does the battery last?
Usually several years, often 6 years or more, depending on the device and how much it paces. Battery life is checked at every device clinic, and the generator is replaced in a smaller procedure when needed.
Can I have an MRI with a pacemaker?
Many modern systems are MRI-conditional, meaning a scan is possible under set conditions. Your device team must check and prepare the device beforehand.
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Related guides
Slow heart rate
Bradycardia means a slow heart rate, usually below 60 beats a minute at rest.
Read the guideICD and CRT devices
An ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) watches the heart rhythm and can treat a dangerous fast rhythm with pacing or a shock.
Read the guideSources
Medical facts on this page follow the sources below.
- NHS: Pacemaker implantation
- NHS: Heart block
- 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy. Eur Heart J 2021
Medically reviewed against ESC and NHS guidance · Updated October 2026. General information, not medical advice.
Location and booking
Book a consultation
Appointments are made through Saudi German Hospital Dubai, Hessa Street, Al Barsha 3. Consultations in Arabic, English and German.
- Address
- Hessa Street, Al Barsha 3, Dubai
- Languages
- Arabic, English, German
Chest pain right now? Do not wait for an appointment. Call 998 or go to the nearest emergency department.