What is Cardiac Pacing?

Cardiac pacing involves the fitting of a pacemaker to regulate the heart rate. - A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that enables the heart to maintain a regular rhythm. - Some pacemakers are permanent (internal) and some are temporary (external).

What does it mean when a Pacemaker is Pacing?

The two basic functions of the pacemaker system are pacing and sensing. Pacing refers to depolarization of the atria or ventricles, resulting from an impulse (typically 0.5 msec and 2 to 5 volts) delivered from the generator down a lead to the heart.

What is Cardiac Pacemaker Implantation?

This tiny device is implanted under your skin and attached to your heart by tiny wires, or leads. The signals, or pacing pulses, are carried along this electrical leads, to the heart and stimulate the heart muscle to beat. It monitors and adjusts the heartbeat based on customized limits.

How long does it take to Implant a Pacemaker?

The procedure usually takes between 1 and 2 hours, but it can take longer if you're having other heart surgery at the same time. Recovery after epicardial implantation usually takes longer than after transvenous implantation.

When do you use Transvenous Pacing?

Although temporary transvenous cardiac pacing is indicated primarily for the treatment of bradycardia and various types of heart block, intermittent overdrive pacing can also be used as an antitachycardic treatment for a variety of atrial and ventricular tachycardias, such as postoperative atrial flutter or monomorphic.

When is Cardiac Pacemaker used?

In general, temporary cardiac pacing is indicated when a bradyarrhythmia causes symptoms and/or severe hemodynamic impairment and when permanent cardiac pacing is not immediately indicated, not available, or the risk of inserting a permanent pacemaker exceeds potential benefit.