What's the difference between a pacemaker and defibullator? - Heart Disorders Message Board

franjo · 02-07-2003, 01:13 PM

My friend's father is scheduled to have a defibullator (sp) implant next week. I think I understand most of what this gizmo does, but it also sounds like what a pacemaker does. Are these two terms interchangeable?....franjo

MMMarie · 02-07-2003, 07:48 PM

I'm just learning about all this stuff myself, but I believe a pacemaker is used for bradycardia (slow beat), and a defibrilator is used for tachycardia.

02-07-2003, 09:04 PM

They are not interchangable. I will explain the difference between the two in lay terms (it gets quite complicated). A defibrillator is a device used to halt lethal heart rhythms such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Basically, fibrillation of the heart is an uncontrolled shaking of the heart. There is no pumping action, just the muscle movning around in an unorganized manner. And tachycardia (meaning fast heart) happens when the ventricles (the lower 2 chambers of the heart) beat so rapidly that no blood is pumped (because blood is a vicious fluid and too fast will actually do less). So, a de-fibrillator stops this. A defibrillator delivers a shock to the heart stopping the heart. This allows the original rhythm to take over again by the heart. A pacemaker on the other hand does not stop the heart. A pacemaker takes the place of your hearts own pacemaker. (Your heart, in a way, delivers its own shocks in a rhythmic manner). A pacemaker is implanted and delivers these shocks, which conduct throughout the heart, causing it to beat. If you need furter assistance, or would like to ask more questions, please reply to this topic, see your physician, or search the internet for medical sites on this subject ( I would give you some good accredited web-sites, but that is prohibited here on health boards and will be deleted.)_
Thanks
BB

franjo · 02-08-2003, 01:54 PM

Thank you so much for your reply. I did do a search before, but ended up more confused. I did not do an extensive search, however. I'm sure I will have more questions as time goes on. Right now his father's implant has been postponed until sometime next week, because a vein was ruptured during the catherdization (sp).

I do have one question....the limitation of not being able to raise the arms above shoulder height....is that a temporary limitation? Or lifelong?

I am a little more clear on the differences now. Thanks for your help......franjo

mommajayne · 02-08-2003, 07:02 PM

My daughter had an ICD implanted on 1/29. A part of this device contains a dual chamber pacemaker. Could this be why you got confused? Because his device will incorporate both? At this time, only the defibrillator is programmed to work, but in 6 weeks they will use the pacemaker to increase her heart rate so that she can tolerate a higher dose of one of her medications.

As for the lifting of the arm, that is only for the first few weeks to make sure that the leads that are inserted into the heart are good and set in there. If there were any jerky movements or something, like reaching over head, the leads could come out.

When we asked if we should be concerned about it, they told us not to because if the leads came out, the unit would emit a beeping noise and we would know.