Pacemaker Implantation
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A pacemaker is a small device that's placed under the skin of your chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms. This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. Pacemakers are used to treat heart rhythms that are too slow, fast, or irregular. These abnormal heart rhythms are called arrhythmias. Pacemakers can relieve some symptoms related to arrhythmias, such as fatigue (tiredness) and fainting. A pacemaker can help a person who has an abnormal heart rhythm resume a more active lifestyle.
There are two types of pacemakers :
- Single chamber pacemaker : Uses one lead in the upper or lower chamber of the heart
A single chamber pacemaker uses one lead. The lead is placed either in the right upper chamber (atrium) or right lower chamber (ventricle,) depending on the location of the signal problem. For example, in people with sick sinus syndrome and a normal conduction pathway, the lead is usually placed in the right atrium. The pacemaker stimulates the upper chambers, and then the impulse continues to the lower chambers to complete the heartbeat. If the conduction pathway is partly or completely blocked (a condition known as heart block), the lead is generally placed in the right ventricle.
- Dual chamber pacemaker : Uses one lead in the upper chamber and one lead in the lower chamber of the heart
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