The Impact of Pacemaker Devices in the Health Sector
Pacemakers are small devices, roughly the size of a coin. The device transmits electrical impulses to the heart, causing it to beat regularly. It consists of two major components: an electric pulse generator and electrodes that transmit the electrical pulses to the heart. Pacemaker surgery is performed to implant a pacemaker to assist with heartbeat regulation.
A pacemaker is an implantable electronic device that keeps the minimum acceptable heart rate constant. The beat of a pacemaker is painless and unnoticeable, just as your heartbeat is. A pacemaker differs from a defibrillator, which also contains a pacemaker and treats irregular or rapid heart rhythms. Over a million patients worldwide receive a pacemaker each year.
How Does the Pacemaker Function?
Each heart has its own electrical system that alerts the chambers when there is space for contraction. When the heart's electrical system fails, the chambers may contract in the wrong order or too weakly to supply the body with sufficient blood. Pacemakers utilize electrical impulses to correct these issues.
During a surgical procedure that can be performed under either general or local anesthesia, a pacemaker is implanted. It is a quick procedure with a short recovery time.
Even though implantation is not a risky procedure, it is important to understand how it works. Through a 3 cm incision, a small battery is implanted on the right or left side of the chest. The battery and wire are then inserted into the heart and connected to it. The incision is then sutured, and the total duration of the procedure is between 45 minutes and an hour and a half.
Depending on the pacemaker's model and how often it must assist the heart, pacemakers can now last up to 10 or 15 years. Your healthcare provider can provide you with information regarding the average lifespan of the device you'll be given and schedule follow-up appointments to check the battery level in your pacemaker. Additionally, it is typically easier to replace a pacemaker battery than it is to implant the device.
Perks of Pacemakers
- Pacemakers are intended to improve your quality of life and prevent heart-related disruptions
- Numerous symptoms associated with heart rhythm disorders, such as chest pain, confusion, palpitations, nausea, and confusion, are alleviated by pacemakers
- Preventing unpleasant symptoms caused by arrhythmias, such as fainting. Saving your life by preventing your heart from stopping
Certain heart arrhythmias (abnormalities in your heart's normal beating process) can be treated with a pacemaker. Also, diseases like:
- Disruptions of the electrical system of the heart (such as heart blocks)
- Heart failure
- Heart attack history
Different Types of Pacemakers
- Leadless Pacemaker - A catheter-based procedure was used to insert a small pacemaker (about the size of a large pill). This device is attached to the inner wall of the heart, eliminating the need for wires
- Single-Chamber Pacemaker - It works by attaching a single wire to one of your heart's chambers
- Dual-Chamber Pacemaker - It makes use of two wires that are connected to two chambers of your heart
- Biventricular Pacemaker - It employs three wires, two of which are connected to your heart's lower chambers (called ventricles) and a third to the right upper chamber (the right atrium). This therapy is known as cardiac resynchronization (CRT)
In the market for cardiovascular devices, pacemakers have been a reliable source of revenue over the past decade. The revenue growth of the global pacemaker market has been attributed to an aging population and a rise in the prevalence of cardiac rhythm disorders. Both cardiac rhythm therapy (CRT) devices and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) can now be equipped with pacemaker technology, which has resulted in a reduction in recent growth projections. Unanswered is how the latest innovation, leadless pacemakers, will affect the market for cardiac rhythm management.
Implantations of leadless pacemakers have been associated with improved quality of life, fewer postoperative complications, and fewer infections when compared to traditional pacemakers. Positive results from clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of leadless pacemakers have contributed to their current popularity in the United States. Globally, leadless pacemakers are being introduced, but growth is anticipated to be much slower outside the United States. According to Insights10, the market for leadless pacemakers will reach $1 billion by 2029 as a result of patient enthusiasm for the new device. If these devices are adopted more rapidly than anticipated, a paradigm shift may occur, resulting in the significant displacement of the market-leading devices at present.
Life Expectancy of an Individual with a Pacemaker
The life expectancy of a person with a pacemaker depends on a number of factors, including the person's age and health at the time of pacemaker implantation. People with fewer or less severe health concerns are more likely to have a normal or near-normal life expectancy and to live longer.
Conclusion
Pacemakers are used to treat irregular heartbeats and sick sinus syndrome in cardiac patients. In addition, if they have been prescribed a beta blocker if their brains do not receive adequate blood flow if they have long QT syndrome if they have undergone a heart transplant, or if they suffer from certain coronary heart diseases, they will be advised to have a pacemaker implanted. Pacemakers are also implanted in patients who have a heart rate of 35 beats per minute or less, a conduction defect, a low ejection fraction, or ischemic arteries.