Cardiac Pacemaker
A pacemaker can be used to treat patients who have lost the ability to conduct electricity between the atriae and ventricles to treat a condition called “heart block”. Some patients who are symptomatic with very slow heart rate can also benefit from pacemaker insertion. Following heart valve surgery approximately 2-3% of patients can develop either slow heart rate or heart block and require pacemaker insertion.
A pacemaker consists of an intricate connection between leads placed within the heart and an electrical box which decides to stimulate the heart to beat if the heart itself fails to trigger one itself. The box is usually placed under the pectoral (chest) muscle just below the collar bone.
