Types of pacemaker

[Nannyjenny]

Have a pacemaker but told I might need a different type. (Thought there was only one kind) Does anyone know more about this please?

[RufusScamp]

There are two main types, the pacemakers which regulates the heart beat, and the defibrillator which acts occasionally. The first type can have one, two or three leads.The main BHF website has lots of useful information on them all.. Do you know which one you have at the moment?

[Nannyjenny in reply to RufusScamp]

At mo I have one for Brady but twice RV lead punctured my ventricle so during OHS they took it out. So AV lead only. But now saying I might need a different type as have tachy/bradia syndrome and keep passing out.

[S11m]

ICDs (Implantable Cardiac Defribulators) can shock (defibrillate) the heart, and can also pace the heart.One lead pacemakers pace the ventricles, and two lead pacemakers (like mine) also pace the atria.

When they do a catheter ablation they often destroy the natural pacemaker in the atria to the extent that the atria do not beat - and two lead pacemakers rectify this.

[KentFox]

Just to add my knowledge to the previous posts, when I had the ICD (Implantable Cardiac Defribulator) fitted I only needed the shocking function and not the pacing function. I was told there are two options that had the shocking function, the traditional ICD which sits just under the collar bone or the sub-cutaneous ICD that sits under the arm-pit. I was told that both function more or less the same. When I went through the two options the main difference was the relative risks. The primary risk of the traditional ICD is an increased risk of heart infection whist the risk of the sub-cutaneous ICD is the need to have a general anaesthetic. From my understanding both risks were very small but need to be mentioned as part of the hospital procedure re risks of surgery. Hopefully this helps to enable you to discuss with your consultant.

[Nannyjenny in reply to KentFox]

Thanks will hopefully get some answers tomorrow but have some knowledge now

[Breesha]

I have A CRD which is a pacemaker with tree leads to synch heart .. brilliant A lifechanger