Indication for a pacemaker

Pacemaker indication

The heart pumps with regular strokes blood into the circulation to supply the body and all of its organs with oxygen (Task of the heart). It does it all by itself, so it doesn't come through from the outside annoy stimulated to do so, but has specialized cells that function as an internal clock. This system of cells is called the conduction system or pacemaker system.

Primary Pacemaker / pacemaker is the so-called sinus node, which is located on the right atrium and usually for one Heart rate of 60 to 80 beats per minute. It passes on the excitation so that first the atria and then the ventricles contract one after the other so that the heart can beat in a regular rhythm.

If under certain Heart disease If the heart does not beat fast enough or pauses, this conduction system has to go through an external one Pacemaker get supported.

First of all, it is important to decide whether the patient only needs the pacemaker for a limited time or whether it is needed permanently. Only in the second case is the pacemaker actually implanted.

The indication for a temporary treatment put for example the cardiogenic shock (where the heart cannot pump enough blood for a short period of time) or certain Poisoning (for example with the foxglove plant).

The pacemaker is indicated for long-term use primarily in one Bradycardia (when the heart beats too slowly) that causes discomfort to the patient. Also Atrial fibrillation can cause such a symptom as the atrium contracts too quickly and too often in a disorderly manner, with only a few beats being transmitted to the ventricles.

The other large group of diseases for which there are indications for one Pacemaker affects the conduction system itself. On the one hand, there is a sinus node dysfunction (also: Sick sinus syndrome), in which the pacemaker function of the Sinus node is disturbed or blocked completely, causing the heartbeat to slow down to as much as 40 beats per minute. The pacemaker then practically has to take over the function of the sinus node.
In addition, there are several types of so-called heart blocks in which it is not the generation but the transmission of electrical impulses that is defective. This conduction disorder can be inside the atrium, between the atrium and ventricle, or within the ventricle itself, with conduction either being delayed or not being carried out completely.
Here the stimulates PacemakerDepending on the type, either just the atrium or atrium and ventricle.

The Carotid Sinus Syndrome is also one Indication for a pacemaker. In this condition, an area of ​​the carotid artery is overly sensitive. If this is stimulated (for example by jerky head movements), the heart rate drops extremely; the pacemaker must therefore stimulate the chambers.

Also Cardiac arrhythmias, Heart failure (when the heart cannot pump enough blood to adequately oxygenate the body) and an insufficient increase in heart rate in stressful situations indication for a pacemaker.