Ask the PhysiciAn Raffaele corbisiero, M. D., FAcc Attending Cardiac Electrophysiologist Division Director, Electrophysiology and Pacing
Q: My physician just told me I might need a device like a pacemaker or defibrillator. Two questions, please: What is the difference, and does this mean my heart isn’ t functioning very well?
~ Scott L., Elizabeth
A: These are good questions! Let’ s start with the difference between these two devices: Pacemakers are smaller than defibrillators( ICDs), and they’ re designed to keep a heart from beating too slowly. ICDs are a bit larger and are used to prevent cardiac arrest by providing an electrical shock, if needed, to stop a life-threatening rhythm from the bottom part
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of the heart. Although all procedures have risks, device implanting is well tolerated and if you need one, you’ ll be surprised at how much better you feel afterwards.
At Deborah, we work hard to bring cutting-edge technologies to those who need device therapy. Just recently, we were the first hospital in the region to implant an amazing new defibrillator, used for treating patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest; it sits just below the skin without the need for insulated lead wires to be placed into the heart itself. Patients will no longer need to have leads replaced, eliminating the potential for vascular infection and reducing complications associated with lead extraction or implantation.
Regarding pacemakers: The electrical patterns of the heart are very complex. At Deborah, we have a myriad of techniques for addressing irregular heart rhythms, including slowing rapidly beating hearts, and stimulating those with a slow beat. We also have discovered, many times, that the heart rhythm is off, in part because the heart itself has other issues we need to address.
There are many medical things we can do to help get the heart back on the right track, including making lifestyle recommendations to help strengthen the heart. This is one of the best benefits of seeing a specialist at a comprehensive heart center like Deborah. I invite you to make your appointment with a Deborah specialist, Scott, using the information provided below.
For an appointment with a Deborah specialist or more information about how Deborah Heart and Lung Center’ s leading-edge technologies can improve your quality of life, call 800-555-1990, option 4 or request info / an appointment by visiting www. demanddeborah. org. www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ JUNE 2017 97