Pediatric Defibrillator and Pacemaker Implantation

At Children's National Heart Institute, our electrophysiologists are pioneering new ways to approach device implantation for children. For us, innovative arrhythmia solutions are part of both our present and our future.

• Minimally invasive procedures. We use the least invasive procedure possible so your child recovers faster. Our electrophysiology center is unique in the region for using a minimally invasive approach to treat arrhythmia disorders in children.
• Safe, experienced care. Our electrophysiologists have more than 20 years of experience performing pacemaker and defibrillator implantation procedures on children. After the procedure, children recover in our renowned Cardiac Procedure Recovery Room. In the Cardiac Procedure Recovery Room, pediatric nurses and staff support and care for your child as he or she recovers.
• Specialized devices. We treat our littlest patients with specialized devices and procedures, tailored to their small heart anatomy. We use our extensive knowledge and experience in the field to adapt pacemaker and defibrillator products and make them suitable for children.
• Ongoing research. We are actively involved in research, working with pacemaker and defibrillator companies to devise even smaller devices and less invasive ways of performing the implantation procedure.

Pacemakers and defibrillators are similar devices. Here's what they each do:

• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). An ICD helps control arrhythmias that are life threatening or could lead to sudden cardiac arrest. During these arrhythmias, your child's heart can't pump blood well. The ICD shocks the heart in order to restore the heart’s normal rhythm.
• Pacemaker. A pacemaker sends small electrical signals to the heart muscle. We usually use pacemakers to treat less dangerous arrhythmias, such as a slow heart rhythm.

A lead (pronounced "leed") is the wire of the pacemaker or ICD that delivers the electric signal to the heart muscle. A lead extraction is when we need to remove one or more of these wires from inside the heart. This may be due to:

• Damage to the lead
• Scar tissue forming at the tip of the lead
• An infection developing at the lead
• A clot or scar tissue blocking the vein

If we determine your child needs lead extraction, we will discuss with you in detail, including the reasons for the extraction and next steps. Our electrophysiology team consists of nationally renowned experts in lead extractions. We use specialized equipment, including laser technology, to provide the safest, most effective extraction procedure for your child.