Devices

Pacemaker is a small electrical device, fitted in the chest or abdomen depending on the patient’s age and condition. It’s used to treat some abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that can cause your heart to either beat too slowly or miss beats. The heart’s sinus node is the natural pacemaker (located in right atrium, the upper right chamber of the heart). It sends an electrical impulse to the atrio-ventricular bode, that conducts the electricity to the ventricles to allow the heart to contract. The job of a pacemaker is to artificially take over the role of your sinus node or the AV node if they aren’t working properly. (picture) Dr Gonzalez Corcia has experience in placing different type of pacemakers in children, and also takes care of the future follow-up of the device.

ICD is a small device which can treat people with dangerously abnormal heart rhythms. It sends electrical pulses to regulate abnormal heart rhythms, specifically those that can be dangerous and cause a cardiac arrest. An ICD is placed under the skin to monitor your heart rate, with thin wires connecting it to the heart. An ICD constantly monitors your/your child’s heart rhythm through the electrodes and only acts if the rhythm is abnormal by means of a delivery of pacing if the heart rate is too slow, or by delivering a shock if it identifies a life-threatening rhythm. The need of an ICD is an extremely rare circumstances during childhood, but as an expert in the field Dr Gonzalez Corcia has experience treating patients with ICDs.

Internal loop recorders (ILR) is a type of heart-monitoring device that records your/ your child’s heart rhythm continuously for up to three years. It is placed just beneath the skin of the chest by a very simple procedure that is performed under deep sedation in children or local anaesthesia in adolescents and adults. An implantable loop recorder allows for long-term heart rhythm monitoring giving answers to rhythm abnormalities that are less frequent. The device records the electrical impulses of your heart and transmits them automatically to your doctor by way of the internet and wireless technology. You will receive a transmission monitor to keep at home. Dr Gonzalez Corcia will interpret the results of your test and call you if she has any concerns. You’ll likely need to see her once or twice a year for routine checkups while the device is in place.