In case the heart rate slows down excessively due to the inability of the heart's stimulation center to generate a stimulus at a sufficient rate or the inability to transmit the stimulus to the lower centers, pacemakers placed in the body are needed to maintain the heart rate in order for the patient to maintain a normal life. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia by placing thin wires called electrodes through the large veins going to the heart in the neck, chest or groin into the heart and connecting it to a generator outside the body. This procedure can be done at the bedside or under the X-ray machine. The procedure usually takes 20-30 minutes. When the need for a temporary battery is eliminated, the wire placed inside the heart is removed.