Pacemaker
Pacemakers are extending the life of the cardiac patients having total bundle block.
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Pacemaker is an electrical pulse generator for starting and/or maintaining the normal heart beat. The output of the pacemaker is applied either externally to the chest or internally to the heart muscle. In case of cardiac stand still, the use of the pacemaker is temporary- just long enough to start a normal heart rhythm. In cases requiring long term pacing, the pacemaker is surgically implanted in the body and its electrodes are in direct contact with the heart. In cardiac diseases, where the ventricular rate is too low, it can be increased to normal rate by using pacemaker. The various arrhythmia (rhythm disturbances) that result in heart block and Adamsstokes attacks represent a serious pathological condition. During that time, the patient becomes invalid because of the constant risk of sudden losing consciousness. By fixing the artificial electronic pacemakers, the above defects in the heart can be eliminated. With conventional drug therapy, the failure within a year is about 50%. Pacemaker therapy lowers this figure to 15% and leads to a considerable improvement in the patients’ mental and physical well being.
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External pacemaker:
- The pacemaker is placed outside the body. It may be in the form or wrist watch or in the pocket, from that one wire will go into the heart through the vein.
- The electrodes are called endocardiac electrodes and are applied to the heart by means of an electrode catheter with electrode’s tip situated in the apex of the right ventricle. These are in contact with the inner surface of the heart chamber.
- It does not necessitate the open chest surgery.
- The battery can be easily replaced and any defect or adjustment in the circuit can be easily attended without getting any help from a medical doctor.
- During placement, swelling and pain do not arise due to minimum foreign body reaction.
- Here there is no safety for the pacemaker particularly in the case of children carrying the pacemaker.
- Mostly these are used for temporary heart irregularities.
Image via Wikipedia
Internal pacemaker:
- The pacemaker is miniaturized and is surgically implanted beneath the skin near the chest or abdomen with its output leads are connected directly to the heart muscle.
- The electrodes are called myocardiac electrodes and are in contact with the outer wall of the myocardium (heart muscle). Endocardiac electrodes are also used.
- It requires an open chest minor surgery to place the circuit.
- The battery can be replaced only by minor surgery. Further any defect or adjustment in the circuit cannot be easily attended. Doctor’s help is necessary to rectify the defect in the circuit.
- During placement swelling and pain arise due to foreign body reaction.
- Here there is a cent percent safety for the circuit from the external disturbances.
- Mostly these are used for permanent heart damages.
Image via Wikipedia
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Teves | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Excellent…
AlmaG | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Very informative. Wonderful article!
abhishek40914 | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
very informative
Kris Snow | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Very well written and accurate.
Mike1229 | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Informative!
mkd1788 | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
nice.. looking informative
drelayaraja | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Very good article. Great information and nice writing.
Themax | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
are you a doctor shanthu ?
Really very useful and informative article,Thanks for sharing
Christine Ramsay | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
The wonders of modern medicine. It is amazing what can be done now. An informative piece.
Christine
OnlineAnalyst | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Oh you have given information like a cardiologist.Excellent article.
Priyanka Bhowmick | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
marvelous work.. i din know thre r external pacemakers also.. thanx 4 sharing!!
wonder | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
A good account, thanks.
Sharif Ishnin | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Really interesting. I also discovered recently that it is dangerous to use rare earth magnets when you are using a pacemaker. Great article.
goindia | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
You have presented a great information on Pacemaker. Thanks dear.
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Mr Ghaz | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
excellent!..well-presented and very interesting read..thanks for sharing
Wennie Estares | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
hi,
good article but hope I would not experience that. thanks.
Papa Sparks | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
I felt this article was well-written and informative, based on the research you did to compile this
ashan1614 | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
It’s great to see a well-researched article!
chantell | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for the info. I really Appreciate this. Great Work. We needed more writers like us back in the day. We get right to the point. Well Presented.
cutedrishti8 | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Learned something new today..
chitragopi | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Some thing new I read today. I had heard of pacemaker. But never had the opportunity to read about it. Thank you for posting.
Frances Lawrence | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply
Very useful information, thank you.
Lady Sunshine | Nov 17, 2009 | Reply
Informative piece.
Sunitha Stalin | Nov 17, 2009 | Reply
my granda pa has a pace maker in his heart ,nice article.
PhoenixRox | Nov 21, 2009 | Reply
I always love to learn new things. Especially, related to technology and medicine. You combined both my loves. Thanks!
Jane Jane | Nov 21, 2009 | Reply
another informative write.
valli | Nov 26, 2009 | Reply
Informative read.
8Shei8 | Feb 17, 2010 | Reply
One of my relative has a pacemaker. Great article!
Anj M | Feb 18, 2010 | Reply
Good information. Thanks for the share