Although cardioversion (the conversion of one cardiac rhythm
to another) may sometimes be done with medications, a cardioverter is now synonymous
with a defibrillator.
I mplantable defibrillators continuously monitor the heart rhythm in order to
detect and correct rapid arrhythmias such as
Ventricular tachycardia (rapid regular beating of the ventricles, the bottom
chambers of the heart); and
Ventricular fibrillation (rapid irregular beating of the ventricles).
These ventricular arrhythmias impair the pumping efficiency of the heart and
greatly raise the risks of fainting (syncope) and sudden cardiac arrest. They tend
to develop in people with coronary artery disease and heart muscle diseases (cardiomyopathies).
A defibrillator can be implanted within the body by far less invasive techniques
than in the past because the devices, aside from being more technologically advanced,
are smaller. (An implantable defibrillator is about the size of a minicassette).
The defibrillator corrects the heart rhythm by delivering precisely calibrated
and timed electrical shocks, when needed, to restore a normal heartbeat.
medical
dictionary, online medical dictionary, medical
terminology dictionary, free online medical
dictionary, medical dictionary, online medical
dictionary, medical terminology dictionary, free
online medical dictionary, dictionary medical,
dictionary medical online, dictionary medical
terminology, dictionary free medical online,
dictionary free medical, dictionary medical
terms, dictionary drug medical medicine,
dictionary health illustrated medical nursing
profession stedmans, dictionary English medical,
dictionary medical online terminology,
dictionary encyclopedia medical online,
condition dictionary medical, dictionary
medical, dictionary drug medical, medical
dictionary software, cyclopedic dictionary index
medical tabers thumb, medical dictionary, online
medical dictionary, medical terminology
dictionary
