Recovering from your procedure

What to expect from recovery

A full recovery from a CRT procedure can take a few days or a few months. You can find some general recovery tips below, but be sure to follow your doctor's post-operative instructions and talk to him or her about resuming normal activities based on your specific situation.

Doctor and patient speaking in a hospital

Post-recovery guidelines

After your procedure, be sure to ask your doctor any questions you may have about your device, heart rhythm, or medication. After your procedure, your healthcare team will give you post-operative directions, which may include:

Avoiding activities that involve heavy lifting or rough contact that could result in blows to your implant site and to allow your incision time to heal
Contacting your doctor if you have any swelling, redness or discharge around your incision, or if you notice anything unusual or unexpected, such as developing a fever that does not go away in 2 or 3 days
Notifying your doctor if you hear any beeping sounds from your device as this indicates your device needs to be checked immediately
Carry your Medical Device ID Card with you at all times
Keep tight clothing and jewelry away from the skin over your device
Avoid rubbing your device or the surrounding chest area
Follow your doctor’s instructions for exercise and bathing

Activities and exercises

Your doctor will help you decide what level of activity is best for you. Some general guidelines include avoiding:

Strenuous activity, especially lifting and other activities that use your upper body. This will give the incision where the CRT device was implanted time to heal and the leads time to firmly attach to your heart tissue
Rough contact that could result in blows to your implant site
Lifting heavy objects until instructed by your doctor
Arm movements that could affect your lead system as directed by your doctor

Driving after CRT surgery

Whether you’re able to drive once you have a CRT device will depend on the driving laws where you live and your specific symptoms, such as passing out prior to the implant. Generally, having a CRT-D or CRT-P device does not prohibit you from driving. However, you may be asked to wait to drive during the early stage of recovery. In some cases, restrictions are necessary. That’s because a few seconds of unconsciousness could be dangerous to both you and others. Your health care team will discuss any driving restrictions with you.

Whether you’re a driver or passenger, you may want to find padding to cover your surgery site and make wearing a seatbelt more comfortable. You may find pads in local retail stores that will provide comfort for your pocket site.

Medical device ID card

Whether you’re going away for the weekend or running a quick errand, it’s important to carry your Medical Device Identification Card with you at all times. Your Medical Device ID Card contains your name, your doctor’s name and phone number, and the model numbers of your device and leads. In an emergency, the card will alert medical and security personnel that you have an implanted device. You will be given a temporary Medical Device ID Card when you receive your CRT device. Your permanent card will be mailed to your home approximately 6 to 8 weeks after your implant.

Moving or selecting a new doctor

Please tell us if you move or get a new doctor. You can use our online patient portal or call us at 1-800-728-3282 to update your record and we will send you a new ID card.

Regular follow-up visits

It’s important to maintain all follow-up visits, even if you’re feeling well. These appointments will help your doctor check your CRT device and overall health on a regular basis.

A typical follow-up appointment takes about 20 minutes. During your visit, your doctor or nurse will use a programmer to check your device. They will examine your CRT device’s memory, evaluate how much energy is left in your battery and check to see if you had any arrhythmia episodes since your last visit. If necessary, they will adjust your device’s programmed settings.

When to call a doctor

Your doctor will provide guidelines for when you should contact him or her. In general, call your doctor if you:

Notice anything unusual or unexpected, such as new symptoms or symptoms like the ones you experienced before you received your device
Have any redness, swelling, or drainage from your incisions
Start a fever that does not go away in two or three days
Receive any arrhythmia therapy from your device and have been instructed to call
Develop symptoms of an abnormal heart rhythm and have been instructed to call
Hear any beeping sounds from your device. This indicates that your device needs to be checked immediately. Listen to the sound.
Have questions about your device, heart rhythm, or medications
Plan to travel or move so you can work with your doctor to develop a follow-up plan while you are away

We're here to help

Our patient services team is here to support you throughout your journey. 

(866) 484-3268

Implantable Devices
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices
Important Safety Information

Cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers (CRT-P) and defibrillators (CRT-D) are designed to treat heart failure patients who may or may not have symptoms or who may have symptoms despite the best available drug therapy. They are also designed to help your heart pump more effectively and meet your body’s need for blood flow. These devices are sensitive to strong electromagnetic interference (EMI) and can be affected by certain sources of electric or magnetic fields. Some of the risks encountered during the implant procedure include, but are not limited to, the following: Bleeding, formation of a blood clot, damage to adjacent structures (tendons, muscles, nerves), puncture of a lung or vein, damage to the heart (perforation or tissue damage), dangerous arrhythmias, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, death. Some of the risks encountered after the ICD system is implanted may include, but are not limited to, the following: Infection, erosion of the skin near your device, lead(s) may move out of place in the heart, device may move from the original implant site, difficulty coping with having an implanted device. The device might be prevented from shocking or pacing due to electromagnetic interference. Electrodes on the lead or the pacing pulses may cause an irritation or damaging effect on the surrounding tissues, including heart tissue and nerves. You may receive a shock or pacing therapy when it is not needed (unnecessary therapy). The device might not be able to detect or appropriately treat your heart rhythms. The device may exhibit malfunctions that may result in lost or compromised ability to deliver therapy. You may experience some discomfort from the incision as you recover from the surgery. With all medical procedures there are risks associated. In rare cases device failure or death can occur. Be sure to talk with your doctor so that you thoroughly understand all of the risks and benefits associated with the implantation of this system. To obtain a copy of the device Patient Handbook for more detailed device safety information, go to www.bostonscientific.com, or you can request a copy by calling 1-866-484-3268 or writing to Boston Scientific, 4100 Hamline Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55112. Rx only

Device Quality and Reliability

It is Boston Scientific’s intent to provide implantable devices of high quality and reliability. However, these devices may exhibit malfunctions that may result in lost or compromised ability to deliver therapy. Refer to Boston Scientific’s CRM product performance report on www.bostonscientific.com for more information about device performance, including the types and rates of malfunctions that these devices have experienced historically. While historical data may not be predictive of future device performance, such data can provide important context for understanding the overall reliability of these types of products. Also, it is important that you talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits associated with the implantation of a device.

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