Pacemakers and ICDs - General and Anesthetic Considerations

A pace-making system consists of an impulse generator and lead(s) to carry the electrical impulse to the patient's heart. When a device-implanted patient undergoes any procedure (with or without anesthesia), special precautions have to be observed including a focused history and physical examination; interrogation of pacemaker before and after the procedure; emergency drugs; temporary pacing and defibrillation; re-programming of pacemaker and disabling certain pacemaker functions if required; monitoring of electrolytes and metabolic disturbance and avoiding certain drugs and equipment that can interfere with pacemaker function. This book provides a clear, concise guidance in dealing with such patients. The use of equipment in procedures which can cause device interactions and the basic guidelines to prevent such interactions is comprehensively reviewed in a clear "what-to-do" style to ensure not only success in surgical or non-surgical procedures, but also the most important thing - "safety" for such patients.

Autorentext

Dr Amy Grace Rapsang [MBBS- LHMC, MD- Safdarjang hospital (Delhi University)] is an Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology and Critical Care, JIPMER, an institute of national importance under the Ministry of Health, India. She has worked in various private and government institutes and has also written several national and international papers.