What is the ventricular pacemaker?

A ventricular pacemaker is a medical device that delivers electrical impulses to the ventricles of the heart to maintain a regular heartbeat when the heart's natural pacemaker or conduction system is not functioning properly. It is particularly useful for patients who have a slow heart rate (bradycardia) due to issues with the heart's electrical activity. There are different modes of pacemakers, and two of the mentioned modes are VVI and VDD: - VVI: This mode paces the ventricles only when the heart's intrinsic ventricular rhythm falls below the pacemaker's threshold. It does not sense or respond to atrial contractions but will pace the ventricles if they do not contract within a set time interval. - VDD: This mode senses both atrial and ventricular events but can only pace the ventricle. It is used in patients with a reliable sinus node (the heart's natural pacemaker) but who have an atrioventricular (AV) block, which is a condition where the electrical signals from the atria to the ventricles are blocked or delayed. The ventricular pacemaker is a crucial tool for managing certain heart conditions and can significantly improve the quality of life for patients by ensuring that their hearts beat at a safe and consistent rate.

VVI: The ventricles are paced, when the intrinsic ventricular rhythm falls below the pacemaker's threshold. VDD: The pacemaker senses atrial and ventricular events, but can only pace the ventricle. This type of pacemaker is used in patients with a reliable sinus node, but with an AV-block.