How Do Pacemakers Treat Fast Rhythm From The Atria?

Dr. Myerburg answers the question: 'Pacemakers For Fast Atrial Rhythms?'

ByABC News
November 20, 2008, 4:06 PM

— -- Question: How do pacemakers treat fast rhythm from the atria?

Answer :Generally, pacemakers are not used to treat fast rhythms, but rather to treat slow rhythms. So if a patient has a really fast rhythm in the upper chambers or atria of the heart, but the impulses are not getting through and the ventricular rate is too slow, a pacemaker that can be used to increase the heart rate.

There's also been some limited studies on the use of pacemakers in the atria to prevent rhythms such as atrial fibrillation and certain other types of atrial tachycardia. These have not been consistently effective in controlling the kinds of arrhythmias that are referred to in terms of the upper chambers or atrium.

So in general, we do not use pacemakers to treat fast rhythms in the atria per se, but we can use them to support the rate in the lower or the pumping chambers in patients who have rapid heartbeats in the upper chamber.