Implantable Heart Devices

If you have an unusual heartbeat, Billings Clinic may use a device to restore a steady rhythm. Cardiac devices help you manage your heart condition. Trust us to help you live a healthier, more active life with quality heart care.

What Are Implantable Heart Devices?

If you have an unusual heartbeat, you may need a defibrillator or a pacemaker. These devices help your heart beat when and how it should. They can:

• Regulate your heart rhythm
• Prevent sudden cardiac arrest (stopped heart)
• Support your heart's overall function

Choosing Billings Clinic gives you access to our electrophysiologists. They’re cardiologists who focus on treating heart rhythm disorders. Your dedicated team will help you understand how these devices work. They will also explain what to expect during and after placement.

Why Do I Need a Heart Device?

Implantable heart devices can be life-changing if you’ve had:

• Heart arrhythmias
  
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Bradycardia
  • Tachycardia
• Cardiac arrest
• Heart failure

Heart Devices for Different Conditions

When you partner with Billings Clinic, you get the expertise of Montana's largest heart rhythm team. Count on us for a wide range of technology.

Devices for Heart Failure

If you have heart failure, your heart's chambers often don't pump at the same time. A cardiac resynchronization device sends mild electrical signals to both sides of your heart. This helps them work together, and your heart pumps blood better.

Devices for Slow Heart Rates

You might need a pacemaker if your heart beats too slowly. Billings Clinic offers you these options to treat bradycardia:

• Transvenous pacemaker - A small device placed under the skin on your upper chest. It connects to your heart with wires (leads) in your blood vessels.
• Leadless pacemaker - This small device goes inside your heart. It removes the need for wires or a chest incision.
• Cardiac resynchronization device - This specialized pacemaker helps your heart chambers beat together

Devices for Fast Heart Rates

If your heart beats too fast, you might need a defibrillator. This device checks your heartbeat and can deliver lifesaving treatment. Your options include:

• Transvenous defibrillator - Combines a pacemaker and a defibrillator in one device. It sits under the skin on your upper chest and connects to your heart through blood vessel wires.
• Subcutaneous defibrillator - Sits under the skin on the left side of your rib cage. It connects to a wire that runs under your skin to the front of your chest. This device doesn’t use wires in your blood vessels.
• Wearable defibrillator - Offers temporary protection with a vest-like device. It monitors your heart through your skin and can treat dangerous rhythms.

What to Expect

When you get a pacemaker, you usually stay in the hospital for less than a day. You’ll have a few restrictions while recovering.