Pacemakers, ICD & CRT Devices

Pacemakers

Indicated where the heart’s own electrical system fails — the natural pacemaker slowing excessively, or conduction between the chambers breaking down. Symptoms are blackouts, near-blackouts, marked fatigue and breathlessness. The device sits under the skin below the collarbone with leads passed through a vein into the heart, and paces only when your own rhythm falls short.

Implantable defibrillators

An ICD monitors continuously and delivers a shock to terminate a life-threatening ventricular rhythm. It is offered where that risk is meaningfully elevated — most often after cardiac arrest, or where pumping function remains severely reduced despite several months of full medical therapy.

Timing matters: pumping function often improves substantially once heart-failure medication is optimised, so implanting too early can commit a patient to a device they would not have needed.

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy

In some patients with heart failure, the left ventricle contracts in an uncoordinated way because of a conduction delay. CRT paces both sides to restore coordination, improving symptoms and, in appropriately selected patients, survival. Selection depends on the pattern and width of the conduction delay, not on symptoms alone.

Living with a device

Regular checks confirm battery status, lead integrity and any recorded rhythm events. Household electronics are safe; keep mobile phones away from the device pocket and mention the device before any MRI, surgery or airport screening. Most people return to full normal activity, including driving, subject to local regulations after ICD implantation.