In certain cases, your doctor may prescribe an implantable device to assist your heart.

Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) are used to treat arrhythmias — a condition of heart rhythm problems that occurs when the electrical impulses that coordinate your heartbeats don’t function properly, causing your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. The Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) helps maintain the pumping ability of your heart.



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	Name of Device		What the Device Does		Reason for Device
	Left Ventricular Assist Device (Also known as LVAD)		The left ventricle is the large, muscular chamber of the heart that pumps blood out to the body. A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a battery-operated, mechanical pump-type device that's surgically implanted.		Helps maintain the pumping ability of a heart that can't effectively work on its own. Sometimes used as a “bridge to transplant” for patients waiting for a heart transplant.

	Pacemaker (Also known as Artificial Pacemaker)		A small device that has wires which are implanted in the heart tissue to send electrical impulses that help the heart beat in a regular rhythm. The device is powered by a battery.		When the heart’s “natural pacemaker”  is defective and causes the heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly, a pacemaker helps the heart beat in a regular rhythm.

	Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (Also known as ICD)		A device that has wires which are implanted into the heart tissue and can deliver electrical shocks, detect the rhythm of the heart and sometimes “pace” the heart’s rhythms, as needed.		Used in patients at risk for recurrent, sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Restores the heart to normal rhythm. Helps prevent sudden cardiac death.

Cardiac Procedures and Surgeries At-A-Glance 
Cardiac Medications At-A-Glance

This content is reviewed regularly. Last updated 04/25/08.