CARDIAC PACING

Abstract

Cardiac electrostimulation was tried and intiated many centenaries ago, pacing is relatively new technique for electrical cardiostimulation through an electronic device; the pacemaker. • It has been proved to be effective in treating bradycardias mainly and as well as certain tachyarrhythmias. Pacing is a well established and effective method for treatment of syncope due to AV complete heart block. In SSS permanent pacing will facilitate the use of antiarrhythmic drugs whenever needed. Some cases of drug resistant tachycardias can be managed with cardiac pacing.

A special coding system used to identify the pacemaker, by three to five letters graphed on the pacemaker impulse generator to designate the pacemaker's function, regardless of the model of the device.

There are two types of pacemakers ; temporary and permanent types, the temporary type mainly used as bridge to the permanent type. The start was asynchronous (atrial or ventricular) which developed into "on demand" pacers with inhibitory or triggering response to avoid competition with the patient's intrinsic rhythm, leading sometimes to VF.