title: Cardiac devices in emergency department heart failure patients.
abstract: As more patients have pacemakers and internal cardioverter defibrillators implanted, and live longer with these and other life-extending therapies, the utility of these devices and the potential for malfunction become meaningful to physicians. This article presents a basic understanding of the reasons for implantation, how the devices function, and what to do to help improve patient care if a problem occurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1252, USA. james.neuenschwander@osumc.edu
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Neuenschwander
mesh_terms: D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014462:Ultrafiltration