Implants

Implants are used to provide long term therapy to patients.  Most common implants include pacemakers or an Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).  

Pacemakers

Pacemakers are pulse generators, they keep the conduction at a fixed rate, or are rate responsive depending of the patient’s life style.  They are used when the sinoatrial node is not functioning properly, conduction pathways between the atrium and ventricles are not functioning properly, or the atria are beating irregularly, the biventricular pacemaker will improve the synchronised contraction of the ventricles.  

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)  

An ICD is used to prevent life threatening ventricular arrhythmias by shocking the heart; it does this by detecting the rhythm of the heart, this means it is similar to both a pacemaker and a defibrillator.  The ICD is placed on the muscle of the chest or the abdomen; there may be some bruising after the fitting.  Technical problems are extremely rare with ICD, but you should have regular check-ups.  

Ryan Hodgkinson