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Triple lead (triple chamber) pacemaker

Case contributed by: Dr Yuranga Weerakkody

Patient Data:

Age: Adult

Gender: Male

From the case: Triple lead (triple chamber) pacemaker

Modality: X-ray

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Case Discussion:

Triple-chambered pacemakers typically have one lead in the right atrium, one to stimulate the right ventricle, and one to coronary sinus. These pacemakers are inserted in patients who have weakened heart muscle (which results in heart failure). These pacemakers "resynchronize" the ventricles and may improve the efficiency of the contraction of the heart, improving its blood flow. These are therefore called cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillators (CRTD)'s

References:

Steiner RM, Tegtmeyer CJ, Morse D et-al. The radiology of cardiac pacemakers. Radiographics. 1986;6 (3): 373-99. Radiographics (abstract) - Pubmed citation
Collins J, Stern EJ. Chest radiology, the essentials. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2007) ISBN:0781763142. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon