An artificial device may be implanted to regulate the heart rhythm, according to the American Heart Association. A heart rhythm can be too fat, too slow or irregular, causing an insufficient amount of blood and oxygen to reach the body. Deficient amounts of oxygen to the body may cause symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness and a loss of consciousness. Commonly implanted artificial devices include the left ventricular assist device, implantable cardioverter defibrillator or artificial cardiac pacemaker.
Left Ventricular Assist Device
A left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, is a battery-operated implantable device that maintains the pumping action of the heart, according to the American Heart Association. An LVAD is commonly used as a long-term treatment plan in people with weakened hearts who have heart failure. However, an LVAD can also be installed in people waiting for a heart transplant.
Installation of an LVAD requires open-heart surgery that usually takes 4 to 6 hours, according to MayoClinic.com. A cut is made down the center of the chest and the heart is stopped. People remain alive via a heart-lung bypass machine that keeps oxygenated blood flowing through the body during surgery, according to MayoClinic.com. After the LVAD is implanted, the heart-lung bypass machine is removed so the LVAD can begin pumping blood through the heart.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD, is an electronic device that constantly monitors the heart rhythm, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The ICD is implanted into the chest and wires connect from the device to tissues of the heart. The wires of the ICD deliver electrical shocks to the heart when the device detects an abnormal heart rhythm or a very fast heart rate. An ICD is recommended to patients with recurrent and sustained, life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms, such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
An ICD is usually implanted using the endocardial approach, where small incisions are made in the chest. Inside the chest, wires are guided to the heart with the aid of a fluoroscopy machine, according the Cleveland Clinic. The tip of the wires attach to the heart muscle, while the other ends attached to the generator. The generator is then implanted in a pocket created under the skin and located in the upper chest.
Artificial Cardiac Pacemaker
An artificial cardiac pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that has wires which are implanted into the heart tissues. The device sends electrical impulses through wires to the heart. The electrical impulses make the heart beat in a normal rhythm and at a normal rate. Pacemakers are commonly recommended to people with slow heart rate conditions, such as sick sinus syndrome or heart block. The abnormally slow heart rates associated with these conditions prevent an efficient amount of blood from reaching the body, causing symptoms such as tiredness, dizziness and loss of consciousness.
An artificial cardiac pacemaker procedure involves the device being implanted under the skin, right below the collarbone. The wires are inserted through veins using X-ray control and attached to the tissues of the heart. The wires and generator are tested before the incision is closed.
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