wondering

Hello! Im wondering why some patients receive a single chamber pacemakers while others receive a dual chamber pacemakers. What is the difference? Sorry for this questio but im new to this and dont know much, thank you

5 Comments

pacing

by Tracey_E - 2015-06-24 08:06:37

No need to apologize! We throw around a lot of terms, don't be shy if you have questions. Dual chamber will pace both atria and ventricles, so it can handle av block (when ventricles don't keep up with atria) or when the sinus node (atria) doesn't go fast enough, or any combination of those. The first pacers were only single chamber, and some drs still prefer to keep it simple if the patient will only need one type of pacing. However, most of us have two leads. Even if we don't think we'll need the second one, it provides information. Also, sometimes we end up needing it. Since the procedure to put them in is the same, they often do both automatically.

Just yesterday

by IAN MC - 2015-06-25 03:06:20

i was discussing this at my annual pacemaker check-up.

I had a PM fitted 4 yrs ago and would have been a possible candidate for a single chamber PM as I have sick sinus syndrome and only needed the upper chamber pacing. In fact I was fitted with a dual chamber.

I was told yesterday that very few single chamber PMs are now fitted in the UK because as Tracey said sometimes we end up needing the second lead. I hadn't realised, until my discussion yesterday that it is likely, over time, that SSS may progress to problems with the AV node which would make the second lead essential.

It would be convenient if cardiac electrical problems didn't change over time but unfortunately they can.

Cheers

Ian

thanks!

by wired&blessed - 2015-06-25 07:06:15

Thanks TraceyE and IAN MC! Both your answers are very helpful. I dont i understand much and get confused easily.I also have SSS, SOB and Bradycardia and will be getting a St Jude Medical double chamber pacemaker but dont dont know much about the entire procedure or pacemakers. Thanks & blessings.

THANKS!

by wired&blessed - 2015-06-26 04:06:36

Thanks TraceyE for all the info much needed provided!! I look into it, i appreciate getting all the info i can! God bless!!

information

by Tracey_E - 2015-06-26 07:06:05

Information is your friend! This link has some great animations that explain how the heart beats, how the pm works, and how it is implanted
http://health.sjm.com/arrhythmia-answers/videos-and-animations

Bradycardia is just a heart rate under 60, more of a symptom than a diagnosis. Every last one of us has brady, whatever the cause.

SOB is shortness of breath, typical when your heart rate is too low.

SSS is sick sinus syndrome. The sinus node is in the atria, it keeps track of the oxygen level in the blood and raises/lowers our hr accordingly. It tells the ventricles when to beat, that ventricular contraction is what we feel as our pulse. When the signal doesn't get to the ventricles and the heart gets out of sync, that's the av node problems Ian mentioned. SSS is when the sinus node gets lazy. It can mean it dips too low and/or doesn't go up appropriately on exertion. A two lead pm can fix any of this.

If all you have is SSS, you will probably only pace with the atrial lead and could possibly get by with just the one lead, however it doesn't hurt to have the ventricular lead. Electrical problems seem to go together and many of us end up pacing with both at least some of the time.

If you have questions, don't be shy!

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Member Quotes

I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.