What is pacemaker placement?

A pacemaker placement is the implantation of a small electronic device that will be placed in the chest (underneath the collarbone) to help manage electrical heart problems.
It is important to keep the heartbeat from slowing to a dangerously low level.
A pacemaker is composed of three parts:
- a pulse generator
- one or more leads
- an electrode on each lead.
When the heartbeat is too slow or irregular, a pacemaker stimulates the heart to beat.

Types of pacemaker

A single-chamber pacemaker delivers electrical impulses to your heart's right ventricle.
To help control the timing of contractions between the two chambers, a dual-chamber pacemaker delivers electrical impulses to the right ventricle and right atrium of your heart.
For persons with heart failure and abnormal electrical systems, a biventricular pacemaker, commonly known as cardiac resynchronization therapy, is used. This stimulates the lower chambers of the heart (the right and left ventricles) to make the heartbeat more efficiently.

What is pacemaker placement? Print