Dangerous! Pacemaker explosion during last rites

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The death of a heart patient fitted with a pacemaker demands serious attention. Relatives often care less about the pacemaker and will proceed with the last rites ceremony. There is a high chance of the battery in the pacemaker exploding. If it bursts, the steel casing covering the battery will shatter into pieces. This is what leads to the accident, said Dr S. Harikrishnan, head of the cardiology department at the Sree Chitra Institute and Technology. Recently, a person was seriously injured when a pacemaker exploded during a last rites ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram.

The battery is the main component of a pacemaker, which can last up to 10 years. It is usually three centimetres long and three centimetres wide. In some cases, if the battery ruptures violently, steel splinters can travel far away and penetrate the body. Any hospital will provide service in removing the pacemaker from a dead body. The risk of danger is greater when the bodies are burned in the backyard with firewood. The danger is unlikely when the last rite is performed in an electric crematorium. However, it is better to remove the pacemaker rather than take the risk.

Pacemaker:

This is a device used to restore normal heart rhythm when the heart rate is low. A pacemaker is placed through a small incision just below the shoulder. It continuously monitors the heart rate and delivers electrical energy to normalise it when the heart rate is low. When the heart rate returns to normal, the pacemaker remains inactive.

The heart beats 70 to 90 times per minute. In some cases, the heart rate can drop to 20 to 40 times per minute. The body will be unable to pump the required blood. Irregular heartbeats can cause fatigue, weakness, and fainting. Pacemakers are needed in such cases.