Go back

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This course will intend to improve competencies of cardiologists and other physicians in related fields regarding T4.4 Testing and programming pacemakers / heart stimulators: cardiac pacemakers and others implantable heart rhythm corrective or monitoring devices e.g. their application, basic principles of operation, testing, programming and troubleshooting. The course will cover the following topics:

• Heart anatomy and electrophysiology
• Indications for cardiac pacemaker, rhythm monitor and cardioverter-defibrillator implantation
• Implantation procedure sequence, common complications and possible solutions
• Cardiac pacemaker, rhythm monitor and cardioverter-defibrillator testing:
  • Basic settings
  • Detection of arrhythmias
  • Problem situations and troubleshooting
  • Programming of the device

SUMMARY

This course is designed to provide the relevant physicians with a comprehensive theoretical and practical understanding regarding the use of T4.4 Testing and programming pacemakers / heart stimulators: cardiac pacemakers, rhythm monitors and cardioverter-defibrillators so as to improve patient care and support early diagnostics and correct treatment for various pacemaker associated issues and conditions. Acquisition of the necessary knowledge and skills is structured in the following modular format:

• Module 1: Anatomy and Electrophysiology: The goal of this module is to provide relevant knowledge on cardiac anatomy and electrical impulse flow within the heart as well as the concepts and variants of bradycardia and arrhythmia, seeing as this knowledge is imperative so as to comprehend the subsequent aspects of cardiac pacing. In addition, so as to enhance theoretical knowledge, practical tasks by use of electroanatomic models of the heart art to be done in the scope of this module
• Module 2: Implantable heart rhythm devices: This module intends to provide a reasonably broad overview of implanted heart rhythm corrective or monitoring devices as well as the indication of their implantation and their modes of action as well as practical simulations of the various underlying arrhythmias for which the devices mentioned afore are to be used and individual manufacturer device specific simulations are to be done in order to enhance the understanding of core concepts.
• Module 3: Implantation procedure: During this module step-by-step walkthroughs of the implantation of heart rhythm corrective and monitoring devices are done so as to illuminate the pacemaker implantation process as well as showcase the possible early device issues and complications 
• Module 4: Testing and troubleshooting: The focus of this module is on basic and advanced concepts of pacemaker testing and diagnosing possible patient or device operation related issues as well as correction of the aforementioned. During this module heavy emphasis on practical simulations of device programming and a wide variety of possible issues that may be encountered during this process are to be done.

AUTHOR AND COORDINATOR

Author

Dr. Kaspars Kupics, Dr. Georgijs Ņesterovičs, Dr. Matīss Karantajers

Coordinator

Zanda Zēberga