Question

When performing radiographic exams on a patient after pacemaker placement, the radiographer should avoid abducting or elevating the left arm for how many hours after the pacemaker placement procedure?

1) 12
2) 48
3) 8
4) 24

Answer 1

After pacemaker placement, the left arm should not be abducted or elevated for 24 hours to ensure proper healing and lead stability.

Step-by-step explanation:

When performing radiographic exams on a patient after pacemaker placement, the radiographer should be careful not to abduct or elevate the patient's left arm. There is a specific period during which this precaution is especially important to prevent potential displacement of the newly placed pacemaker leads. The generally recommended time frame is to avoid lifting or abduction of the left arm for 24 hours after the placement procedure. This helps ensure that the site of the pacemaker implantation has sufficient time to heal and that the leads remain securely in place while the tissue around them forms a stable attachment.