Biventricular Pacemaker or Defibrillator

Pacemakers work on "demand" and are used to treat slow heart rhythms. These small devices are implanted beneath the skin below the collarbone and connected to a set of permanent insulated wire(s) positioned inside the heart (right atrium and/or ventricle) via a vein. The pacemaker delivers a small electrical impulse to stimulate the heart to beat when it is going too slow.

Biventricular Pacemaker or Defibrillator

In addition to conventional pacemakers and ICDs, UCSD physicians also use biventricular pacemakers and ICDs for a treatment known as Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy or CRT. CRT devices work by pacing both the left and right ventricles simultaneously, which results in resynchronizing the muscle contractions and improving the efficiency of the weakened heart.