Artificial pacemaker

From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

In medicine and cardiology, an artificial pacemaker is a "device designed to stimulate, by electric impulses, contraction of the heart muscles. It may be temporary (external) or permanent (internal or internal-external)."^[1]

History

In the 1980s many implantations of pacemakers were unnecessary or need was not adequately documented.^[2]

Types

The basic two types of pacemaker provide contractile pulses when the heart is beating too slowly (i.e., bradycardia pacemaker) or has an inefficient, overly fast rhythm that must be overcome (i.e., tachycardia pacemaker). Modern pacemakers have considerable computing power and physiological sensors, and can adjust the rate of pacing both for clinical optimization and extending battery life.

For patients at high risk for ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, an extension to tachycardia pacemaking is the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

References

1. ↑ Anonymous, (2009) Artificial pacemaker (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. ↑ Greenspan AM, Kay HR, Berger BC, Greenberg RM, Greenspon AJ, Gaughan MJ (January 1988). "Incidence of unwarranted implantation of permanent cardiac pacemakers in a large medical population". N. Engl. J. Med. 318 (3): 158–63. PMID 3336403.