For people experiencing arrhythmia—an irregular heartbeat—sometimes surgery is necessary to restore normal heart function. There are a few devices a cardiac surgeon may implant to help your heart work properly.
If your heartbeat is too slow or irregular, an electronic pacemaker can help regulate your heart rate. This permanent device is inserted through a small incision in your upper chest, near a major vein, and tucked into a protected area under your skin or muscle. A wire connected to the pacemaker is moved through the vein and into your heart. This wire carries signals between heart and the pacemaker. Once in action, the pacemaker sends an electrical impulse to your heart whenever it detects a faulty rhythm.
Similar to a pacemaker, this device is implanted into your chest to monitor your heart rate. But, unlike a pacemaker, a defibrillator is used for those whose heart sometimes beats too fast. The defibrillator can sense when the heart rate increases too much and sends out electrical signals to bring the heart rate back down to normal.
For details on arrhythmia surgery at UR Medicine, contact us at (585) 275-2525.