Authors

• Ivana Hodanić — University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-3403-4773
• Marina Klasan — University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-9863-4113
• Katarina Matković — University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-6868-3579
• Saša Bura — University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-5937-4865
• Ivan Šragalj — University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0009-0006-6571-0849
• Domagoj Blažević — University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0009-0000-4188-1367

Keywords

pacemaker, cardioverter defibrillator, advantages, limitations

DOI

Full Text

**Introduction**: The implantation of a heart pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator brings with it several advantages, positive sides, but it also carries certain limitations, negative sides. It should be emphasized that the choice of device depends on the medical diagnosis, the specific needs of the patient and the clinical decision of the physician. Each patient is unique, so therapy and device selection are individually tailored to achieve the best possible care. The positive aspects of implantation these devices are the preservation of a stable heart rhythm, prolongation of life, prevention of syncope, gives the patient individual therapy and the possibility of combining different therapeutic options. However, it is important to recognize the negative side of device implantation, such as the need for a surgical procedure during implantation, potential complications during the implantation procedure, regular check-ups of device, the possibility of improper stimulation, dependence on constant stimulation and device battery replacement. (1) **Case report**: We present the case of a young patient who started treatment in another hospital, but due to complications that occurred during the therapy, the treatment continues at University Hospital Centre Rijeka. In the patient’s case, a cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted to identify and prevent life-threatening arrhythmias. Although initially, after installation, the device recognized life-threatening arrhythmias and prevented sudden cardiac death, there were complications that highlighted the negative sides of the pacemaker and consequently negatively affected his quality of life.

Literature

1. Willy K, Ellermann C, Reinke F, Rath B, Wolfes J, Eckardt L, et al. The Impact of Cardiac Devices on Patients’ Quality of Life-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2022 August 10;9(8):257. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd9080257