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Pacemaker/Defibrillator Clinic

When the heart's natural pacemaker fails, a device can be implanted to pace the heart's contractions and to restore normal blood flow

Clinic staff with patientThe Pacemaker/Defibrillator Clinic provides evaluation and ongoing follow-up for patients with implanted pacemakers and defibrillators to ensure each device is working properly and to monitor the life of the device.

Currently, the Pacemaker/Defibrillator Clinic is located at the University of Alberta Hospital but will move to the heart institute later this year.

Referral Information
Clinics from Capital Health programs refer both adult and pediatric patients for continuous follow-up to the Pacemaker/Defibrillator Clinic once the devices are implanted.

For those patients participating in special study programs, the physician office or clinic staff will contact the patient with appointment information.

Contact Information
When the clinic receives the referral, clinic staff contacts the patient for an appointment. If the patient needs to reschedule, he or she may contact the clinic directly at (780) 407-1158.

Location
The Pacemaker/Defibrillator Clinic is located on the second floor within the Cardiology Clinic at 2C2 on the south-west side of the Walter C. Mackenzie Centre, near the waterfall and teahouse. Please see the Level 2 map, for more information.

Parking
Public parking is available at metered, underground, surface, and parkade lots on site. For information on hourly, weekly, and monthly parking, as well as locations, please see the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute information sheet.

About pacemakers
When the heart's natural pacemaker fails, an artificial pacemaker can be implanted. A pacemaker is a small device that helps your heart beat in a regular rhythm. Some are permanent (internal) and some are temporary (external).

Pacemakers use batteries to produce paced electrical signals that result in regular contractions of the heart to restore normal blood flow. Small electrical charges travel through the wires of an electrode that is positioned next to the heart wall.

Most pacemakers have a sensing device that turns itself off when the heart is above a certain level. It turns back on when the heartbeat is too slow. These are called demand pacemakers.

About implantable defibrillators
Cardiac defibrillation is a way to return an abnormally fast or disorganized heartbeat to normal with an electric shock. An implantable cardiac defibrillator continuously monitors your heart rate and rhythm. When it detects an abnormal heart rhythm, it delivers energy to the heart muscle. This causes the heart to beat in a normal rhythm again.

Where can I find more information?
Capital Health and other organizations support online resources on pacemakers and defibrillators, as well as heart health. These resources should be used as a general guideline only. Individual assessment, interpretations, and advice by your cardiologist should always be your most important resource.

For more information, please see:

 

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