Introduction
Pacemakers and defibrillators are electronic devices that are inserted into the body to correct disturbances in the regular beating of the heart.

Pacemakers
These devices ensure that the heart continues to beat regularly. Slowing down of the heart or complete stopping is a dangerous condition. If the heart stops completely for a prolonged period of time, death can occur.

Pacemaker and incision for pacemaker is 2 inches long
This photograph was taken four weeks after the pacemaker operation.

Defibrillators
In many conditions, the heart goes into an abnormal rhythm called fibrillation. If fibrillation is not treated immediately this condition will result in death in a few minutes. The emergency treatment required is called defibrillation. An electric charge is applied to the heart. Unfortunately, this facility is not always available in the short period of time necessary to save the patients life.

Defibrillators can be implanted in your body to automatically defibrillate the heart. These devices are called ACD’s (Automatic cardioverter defibrillators.)

These implanted devices have saved many lives by delivering an electric shock to the heart when required.

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