Countershock and Pacemaking in Cardiac Arrhythmias

Application of electric current to the management of cardiac arrhythmias is the single most important factor in today's vastly improved survival of patients with acute myocardial infarction. But although defibrillators and pacemakers have become more sophisticated, problems still remain. Discussed here are the development of the devices, indications for their use, and pacemaker complications such as wire breakage.