Final answer:
Common indications for pacemaker implantation include addressing chronic arrhythmias and conditions like bradycardia, when the heart rhythm is not maintained appropriately. Pacemakers provide necessary electrical impulses to help the heart contract efficiently and may include defibrillators for severe cardiac events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Common indications for permanent pacemaker implantation include the absence of a reversible cause and conditions such as chronic arrhythmias, where the heart maintains a junctional rhythm originating from the AV node. An artificial pacemaker, a medical device, is implanted to address these issues by delivering electrical impulses to the heart muscle. This device helps in maintaining an appropriate heart rate and restoring full sinus rhythm, particularly helpful for patients with bradycardia or heart block.
Pacemakers are often programmable and can provide stimulation either on-demand or continuously. They come equipped with sensors that detect body motion and breathing to adjust the heart rate during exercise, ensuring the heart meets the body's needs for blood and oxygen. In addition to regulating heart rhythms, some pacemakers have built-in defibrillators to address more severe cardiac events.