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Patients and Families What Implantable Devices are Used to Treat Arrhythmias?An electronic device can be implanted in the patient's chest to help remedy some types of arrhythmia. These devices are battery-powered and send electrical pulses into the heart to regulate the rate at which it beats. PacemakerIf the heart beats too slowly, an electronic pacemaker can be implanted to speed up the heart rate. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillatorIn cases where the ventricles of the heart beat too rapidly or quiver (fibrillation) instead of contracting normally, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) can be installed. When the heart rate reaches or exceeds a specified limit, the device sends electronic signals, which shocks the heart back into a normal rhythm, restoring effective pumping of blood.  
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Media Highlight
Doris Renfroe suffered side effects from her anti-arrhythmia medication and had serious concerns about the risk of a pace- maker if a heat-based ablation went wrong. For Doris, CryoTherapy was the only viable alternative. |
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Doris Renfroe
