Many people benefit from today's amazing electronic technology.
In some people one of the main results of heart disease is the way it affects the part of the heart that controls the heart's rate and rhythm, the sinus node . In these cases the physician may choose to implant a permanent pacemaker. These devices, small enough today to fit in a normal kitchen tablespoon, are connected to one or two small wires. The pacemaker is implanted by the physician, usually in a shoulder area, in either the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, the Electrophysiology Lab or the Operating Room. Maintaining a sterile environment is extremely important when performing this procedure.