Pacemaker and ICD Implantation and Management
Expert pacemaker and defibrillator implantation and long-term device management — treating slow heart rhythms and preventing sudden cardiac arrest.
What is It?
A Pacemaker is a small electronic device implanted under the skin of the chest that monitors your heart rhythm and delivers electrical impulses to maintain a normal heartbeat when the heart beats too slowly or irregularly. An Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) is a similar but more advanced device that can also detect and treat dangerously fast heart rhythms by delivering a life-saving shock to restore a normal rhythm.
At One Heart Centre, our cardiologists and electrophysiologists have expert training in implanting, programming and managing both pacemakers and ICDs, ensuring each device is optimally tailored to your individual cardiac needs.
Why is It Performed?
At One Heart Centre, our cardiologists may recommend a Pacemaker or ICD to:
- Treat slow heart rhythms (bradycardia) causing fatigue, dizziness or fainting
- Prevent sudden cardiac arrest in patients at high risk of life-threatening arrhythmias
- Manage heart failure with specialised biventricular (CRT) pacing to improve heart pump function
- Monitor and treat atrial fibrillation and other complex rhythm disorders
- Provide ongoing heart rhythm surveillance and protection
The decision to implant a cardiac device is made after a thorough assessment of your heart condition, symptoms and individual risk profile by the expert team at One Heart Centre.
What Does the Test Involve?
The implantation procedure is performed in a specialised hospital catheterisation or electrophysiology laboratory, usually under local anaesthetic with sedation so you remain comfortable throughout.
A small incision is made below the collarbone, and one or more thin, flexible leads (wires) are guided through a vein into the heart and positioned in the appropriate chambers. The leads are then connected to the pulse generator (the device itself), which is placed in a small pocket beneath the skin.
The procedure typically takes 1–2 hours. After implantation, the device is carefully tested and programmed. Most patients stay in hospital overnight and return home the following day. Your cardiologist at One Heart Centre will arrange regular follow-up appointments to check the device, review your heart rhythm data and adjust settings as needed to ensure optimal performance.
What are the Benefits?
- Effective, proven treatment for slow heart rhythms and prevention of sudden cardiac arrest
- Continuous heart rhythm monitoring and automatic therapy delivery
- Improved symptoms, energy levels and quality of life
- Minimally invasive implantation with a short hospital stay
- Long-term, personalised device management and follow-up at One Heart Centre