4
September
Can a Pacemaker Trigger Allergic Reactions?
Allergic reactions to pacemakers are extremely rare. Prior to device implantation, patients undergo an in-depth analysis of their medical history and allergies taken to ensure that there is no risk for an adverse reaction to a pacemaker. In extremely rare cases, a patient with a negative skin allergy test will show a reaction to a particular pacemaker after implantation.
Reactions to pacemakers typically present as an infection on the surgical site. If a patient develops a sensitivity to any of the pacemaker’s metal components after implantation, the device can be replaced with non-allergenic model. Many doctors use gold-plated pacemakers with polyurethane leads to eliminate the risk for an allergic reaction.
