Pacemakers and Defibrillators for Patients with Adult Congenital Heart Disease

If you’re an adult living with congenital heart disease (CHD), managing your heart rhythms is an essential part of your overall care. Irregular heartbeats, or arrhythmias, are a common complication for people with CHD, and devices like pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) offer life-saving solutions.

What Are Pacemakers?

Pacemakers are small, battery-operated devices implanted under the skin to help regulate a slow or irregular heartbeat. They send electrical signals to the heart to ensure it beats at a normal pace and rhythm.

Pacemakers are often used in adults with CHD who experience bradycardia (a slow heart rate) or heart block (disrupted electrical signals in the heart).

What Are Defibrillators?

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are devices designed to monitor and treat life-threatening arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

An ICD continuously tracks the heart’s rhythm and delivers a shock when it detects a dangerously fast or irregular beat. This shock restores the heart to a normal rhythm, potentially preventing sudden cardiac arrest.

How Are These Devices Implanted?

Both pacemakers and ICDs are typically implanted during a minor surgical procedure. The device is placed under the skin, usually near the collarbone, and thin wires are threaded through blood vessels to the heart.

The surgery usually takes a few hours, and most patients can go home the same day or after an overnight stay in the hospital.

Benefits for Adults With Congenital Heart Disease

For adults with CHD, pacemakers and defibrillators provide several benefits:

• Heart Rhythm Management: These devices help regulate abnormal heartbeats, reducing symptoms like fatigue, dizziness or fainting.
• Prevention of Cardiac Arrest: ICDs can detect and treat dangerous arrhythmias before they become life-threatening.
• Improved Quality of Life: By stabilizing heart rhythms, these devices can help patients feel more confident in daily activities and reduce emergency medical visits.

Living with a pacemaker or ICD

After the device is implanted, most people can return to their regular activities with a few precautions:

• Avoid strong magnetic fields, such as those from MRI machines or certain industrial equipment.
• Inform all health care providers that you have a pacemaker or ICD, as it may affect certain medical tests or procedures.
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations for regular check-ups to ensure the device is functioning properly.

Is a Pacemaker or ICD Right for You?

Not everyone with CHD will need a pacemaker or defibrillator. The decision depends on your specific heart condition, medical history and symptoms. A congenital heart specialist will evaluate your needs and recommend the best treatment plan for you.