Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators

Arrhythmia is a situation when your heart beats too fast, too slow or with an irregular
pattern. Most arrhythmias result from problems in the electrical system of the heart. If
arrhythmia is serious, it is possible that you might need a cardiac pacemaker or an
implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). These devices are implanted in the chest or
abdomen.

Artificial pacemaker is a small electrical device that is used to prevent a heart from
beating abnormally. It is used to treat the abnormal heart rhythms that can cause the
heart to beat too slowly or miss beats. Artificial pacemaker is a generator which is made
of a battery and computer circuitry that is paced in a metal casing which is implanted
under the skin in the upper chest or shoulder region. The wires of the pacemaker are
threaded through the veins of the shoulder and are connected into the heart by the help
of X-rays. After the wires are connected to the heart they are fixed to the generator. A
pacemaker can sense natural cardiac electric potentials, and if these are too infrequent
or absent it transmits impulses to the heart to stimulate myocardial contraction. Some
pacemakers can also help the chambers of the heart beat in time.
Now lets see how ICD works. The ICD has developed from a treatment of last resort to
a first-line treatment and prophylactic therapy for the patients who are at risk for
ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). An ICD monitors the heart
rhythms. If the ICD feels dangerous rhythms, it provides shocks. This treatment is called
defibrillation. Most new ICDs can act both as an artificial pacemaker and a defibrillator It
can help to control serious arrhythmias, especially those that can cause sudden cardiac
arrest and death. Many ICDs also record the heart's electrical patterns when there is an
abnormal heartbeat which helps the doctor plan future treatment. ICDs have proven to
be helpful in preventing sudden death in patients with known, sustained ventricular
tachycardia or fibrillation.

Artificial pacemaker and ICDs are implanted into the heart through minor surgery. The
patient might require to stay at the hospital for a day or two for the doctor to make sure
that the device is working well. The patient can probably get back to his or her normal
life within a few days.

Narayana Health is one of the best hospital for pacemaker surgery in India with some of
the best skilled doctors in the country. Narayana health is the best hospital in India with
23 hospitals, 7 heart centers and a network of primary health centres across India and
also1 hospital in the Cayman Islands. Narayana health provides high quality healthcare
services for Pacemaker Implantation surgery with a team of best surgeons who are
dedicated and experienced. This superspeciality hospital in India provides advanced
care in almost 30 specialties including cardiology and cardiac surgery, cancer care,
neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, nephrology and urology and
gastroenterology.