Pacemakers protect the heart rhythm from becoming too slow to provide ample blood flow to the body, and at times, to raise rhythm commensurate with the requirements of physical activity. Pacemakers are also used to alleviate congestive heart failure by synchronizing the contraction of heart chambers. Pacemakers comprise two main parts:
- A small box containing a battery
- Flexible electrodes that conduct electrical stimuli to the heart muscle
The pacemaker is placed in the upper chest cavity via a small incision. The tip of the
electrode(s) is passed through the venous system into the heart. The battery housing is placed under the skin in the area of the incision, and the pacemaker is activated.
