Pacemakers are usually implanted in a routine, outpatient surgical procedure. Depending on the patient's heart condition, the physician will prescribe the number of chambers to be paced and a specific kind of pacing. Single-chamber pacemakers paces either the right atrium of the right ventricle of the heart with one lead. A dual-chamber pacemaker paces both the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. The dual-chamber pacemaker is the most common type of pacemaker implanted today.
Pacemakers also vary on their type of pacing.
A rate-responsive pacemaker is needed when a heart cannot increase its rate according to a person's needs. It responds depending on a person's level of activity, respiration or other factors. Each year, more than 400,000 pacemakers are implanted, extending and enhancing the quality life of patients. Published 2000 by Prometheus Books.