Pacemakers, CRT and ICADs

A permanent pacemaker is inserted into the patient's upper chest with the pacemaker wires inserted into the heart to provide a reliable heartbeat when the heart's own rhythm is too fast, too slow, or irregular. A permanent pacemaker is usually inserted while the patient is in the electrophysiology lab.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a special type of pacemaker for certain patients with heart failure. In Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT), an implanted device paces both the left and right ventricles (lower chambers) of the heart simultaneously.This resynchronizes muscle contractions and improves the efficiency of the weakened heart.