Pacemaker & Defibrillator Insertions

Pacemaker Insertions

A pacemaker is a small, battery-powered generator that delivers timed, electrical impulses to the heart muscle to achieve a regular heart beat rhythm. Traditional pacemakers may have one lead, pacing only the ventricles or the atria, or two leads, pacing both chambers. A more recent innovation in the treatment of arrhythmias, a biventricular pacemaker uses three leads to treat the delay in heart ventricle contractions. This new therapy improves the symptoms of heart failure (fatigue, shortness of breath and exercise intolerance) and the person’s overall quality of life.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Insertions

An Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) monitors the heart rate and rhythm and delivers energy to the heart muscle when it detects a very fast, abnormal heart rhythm–causing the heart to beat in a normal rhythm again.

ICD’s are typically used for patients with previous episodes of sudden cardiac death or ventricular fibrillation; previous heart attack victims at high risk for sudden cardiac death; patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; or patients with at least one episode of ventricular tachycardia.