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Modern medicine particularly the use of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) is changing how we approach prevention of potentially life-threatening events
Pacemakers assist in the treatment of bradycardia, also known as a slow heart rhythm
In today’s hectic life, heart health is more at risk than ever, especially with the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in India. Among these, heart rhythm disorders, or arrhythmias, often remain undiagnosed until they cause serious complications such as fainting, heart failure, or even sudden cardiac arrest. The good news is that modern medicine—particularly the use of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs)—is changing how we approach the management and prevention of these potentially life-threatening events. Dr V S Prakash, HOD & Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, Ramaiah Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital shares all you need to know:
Understanding Arrhythmias and Their Impact
Arrhythmias manifest when the heart’s natural electrical system has a fault, whether due to excessive slowness, excessive speed, or irregularity of the beats. One of the common arrhythmias includes bradycardia, which is the slow beat of the heart to a level insufficient to sustain the body’s needs. On the opposite side of the spectrum lie pernicious tachycardias such as ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation which, if not corrected in a timely manner, can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
Such conditions are especially prominent among older adults, those who have experienced a heart attack, and individuals with cardiomyopathies. Timely diagnosis and effective intervention are essential, and this is where modern lifesaving pacemakers and ICDs come into play.
What Are Pacemakers and ICDs?
ICDs and Pacemakers are small, battery-operated devices put in place beneath the skin to assist or correct the heart’s rhythm.
Pacemakers assist in the treatment of bradycardia, also known as a slow heart rhythm. If the heart beats slowly or pauses, the pacemaker stimulates the heart with electrical signals to restore and maintain normal rhythm, ensuring vital organs receive adequate blood flow.
ICDs, or Implantable cardioverter defibrillators, are more sophisticated devices designed to identify and treat dangerously fast or chaotic rhythms, like ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. The ICD monitors the heart rhythm, and when such rhythms are detected, it administers a shock or rapid pacing to reset the clock to avert sudden cardiac death.
ICDs offer dual protection by incorporating pacemaker functionality.
Who’s an Ideal Recipient of These Devices?
A thorough assessment of symptoms, diagnostic tests, and risk factors determines the reasoning behind implanting a pacemaker or ICD.
Patients suffering from symptomatic bradycardia are recommended Pacemakers, alongside:
• Patients diagnosed with sinus node dysfunction
• Heart block cases where electrical signals are impaired or completely halted.
• ICDs are recommended for users facing high risks of cardiac arrest, for example:
• Patients with history of cardiac arrest
• Patients with heart failure or weakened heart muscle also known as cardiomyopathy
• Patients showing specific patterns on ECG or echocardiography that indicate vulnerability to life-threatening arrhythmias
• Diagnostic tools like ECG, echocardiograms, Holter monitors, and electrophysiology studies are often used to determine candidacy.
How Do These Devices Function?
Pacemakers:
• Utilize thin wires (leads) to provide electrical pulses directly to the heart
• Monitor the heart’s activity 24/7
• Activate only when necessary to maintain rhythm
ICDs:
• Constantly monitor heart rhythms
• Deliver low-energy anti-tachycardia pacing to fast rhythms
• Automatically delivers high-energy shocks when lower energy pacing fails to restore normal rhythm
• Remote monitoring, MRI compatibility, and batteries that last years are features of newer models
Implantation and Recovery
The implantation of a pacemaker or ICD is a relatively simple surgery. The steps include:
• Local anesthetics coupled with mild sedation
• An incision made close to the collarbone
• Leads positioned within the heart via insertion through a vein
• The device is subcutaneously placed and connected to the leads
Most surgeries take less than an hour, with a 1–2-day hospital stay. Post-operative care includes routine follow-up appointments for monitoring the device, temporary cessation of physical activity, and tending to the wound.
Living with a Pacemaker or ICD
With some distinct lifestyle changes, life after surgery is active and fulfilling, these include:
• Avoid mobile phones and similar electronics within 6 inches of the device, as well as strong electromagnetic fields
• Though airport scanners and metal detectors do not pose any risk, its always advisable to notify security personnel
• Regular check-ups are critical to ensure that the device is working optimally.
• Emotional and psychological helps boost confidence in patients
With the help of modern innovations, these devices are adaptable, reliable than ever before.
Why Early Consultation Matters
Symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, dizziness, intermittent fainting, or even palpitations should not be brushed off. These are potential indicators of an underlying rhythm disorder. If there is a history of heart disease in the family or other risk factors, seeing a cardiologist in a timely manner is highly advisable.
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More
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