A case is reported of irreversible damage being caused to a permanent programmable pacemaker by electrocautery used in the epigastric region. The pacemaker was rapidly replaced, and the patient had no adverse effects of this accident. The use of monopolar electrocautery in patients who have one of the new generation of programmable pacemakers is very dangerous. Bipolar forceps can reduce the level of interference between electrocautery units and pacemaker electrodes. With programmable pacemakers, the generator instruction manual should be consulted before surgery, as placing a magnet on the generator may not necessarily convert it to the asynchronous mode. When the use of electrocautery is unavoidable, external cardiac pacing electrodes should be placed on the patient, with an external cardiac pacemaker ready.