Cardiac Pacemakers And ICD Implants

Cary Cardiology, P.A.

Multi-Specialty Cardiovascular Group located in Cary, NC & Fuquay-Varina, NC

For patients with an abnormal heartbeat—arrhythmia—that doesn’t improve with medical interventions, the skilled cardiologists at Cary Cardiology, P.A., recommend pacemakers to keep the heartbeat in its natural rhythm. The practice has offices in Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Dunn, and Benson, North Carolina, where they provide pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). To put your mind at rest when you've been having irregular heartbeats, call Cary Cardiology, P.A., or book an appointment online today.

Cardiac Pacemakers and ICD Implants Q&A

What are pacemakers?

Pacemakers are implanted medical devices that support your heart’s electrical system to maintain normal heart rhythm. A pacemaker stabilizes your heartbeat and prevents future health problems.

Your heart’s electrical system sets the rhythm of your heartbeat. When there’s a malfunction in this system, your heart may beat out of sync or erratically, affecting the flow of blood through the heart and the rest of your body. A pacemaker sends a mild electrical impulse to speed up, slow down, or coordinate the rhythm of your heartbeat.

What conditions benefit from pacemakers?

The highly skilled team at Cary Cardiology, P.A., uses cardiac pacemakers to treat a wide range of heart issues. Conditions that benefit from pacemakers include:

Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
Heart failure
Heart palpitations
History of a heart attack

The team may also recommend a pacemaker if you have a heart block that disrupts the electrical impulses that travel through the heart.

What is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)?

An ICD tracks the rhythm of your heart and delivers an electric shock when your heartbeat is abnormal. An ICD is similar to a pacemaker but is used for specific heart conditions, like ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) and ventricular fibrillation (V-fib).

These heart conditions cause dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities. Placement of an ICD may prevent a heart attack.

What happens during the placement of pacemakers?

Your provider reviews the details of your pacemaker placement at your consultation. They may use various surgical methods to place your pacemaker, such as:

Catheter-based approach

They may use a catheter-based approach when placing a leadless pacemaker (small pacemaker about the size of a large pill) that treats one chamber of the heart. Your provider places the pacemaker using a catheter they guide towards your heart through a blood vessel.

Transvenous approach

For the transvenous approach, they use a vein near your heart to place the pacemaker leads on your heart. Then, they put the pacemaker under the skin on the upper portion of your chest and attach the leads.

Surgical approach

For the surgical approach, the team makes a small incision in your chest and inserts the leads, placing them on your heart. Your surgeon attaches the leads to your pacemaker, which they place under the skin of your chest.

To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for a pacemaker, call the Cary Cardiology, P.A., office nearest you or book a consultation online today.

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