Permanent pacemakers are highly sophisticated devices that are implanted to treat various disorders of heart rhythm. Originally they were only capable of treating slow heart rhythms but modern generation pacemakers help to regulate the heart beat and prevent irregular rhythms too. Pacemakers have also been developed to help weakened heart muscle to beat more effectively. The pacemaker consists of a metal box (generator) which contains the battery and circuitry to interpret changes in the heart rhythm. The pacemaker is implanted under local anaesthetic under the skin of the anterior chest wall (just below the collar bone). It is connected to one or more leads that are passed under X-ray guidance through the vein in the chest to the heart so that the tip of the lead(s) sits within a particular heart chamber. The pacemaker detects the electrical rhythm of the heart and will generate electrical impulses that pass along the lead(s) to the heart to make it beat regularly if the heart tries to slow inappropriately. Pacemakers are highly effective treatments for blackouts and certain other abnormalities of heart rhythm. The aim is to restore the patient to a normal life. |
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