Difference between Stent and Pacemaker

Table of Contents

A pacemaker, on the other hand, is a completely different medical device that serves a completely different purpose. A pacemaker is a type of medical device which uses electrical impulses that is inserted under the skin either in the chest or abdomen. It uses these electrical impulses to contract the heart muscles and thus helps regulate the beating of the heart.

People who suffer from irregular heartbeats or from arrhythmia are generally recommended to get a pacemaker, as it helps maintain an adequate heart rate, when the heart's natural pacemaker is not fast enough, or because there is a block in the heart's electrical conduction system.

The insertion of the pacemaker requires a minor surgery, in which an incision is made and the pacemaker is inserted under the skin. The electrodes of the pacemaker must then be inserted with the heart ventricles, i.e. lower chambers. It is these electrodes that deliver the electrical impulses. The surgery is conducted either under general anesthesia or local anesthesia.

The pacemaker is powered by batteries, which typically run between 5 and 15 years. On average, these batteries last 6 to 7 years, depending on the make and model, as well as on how active the pacemaker is.

It should be noted that in certain cases inserting a stent may lead to the development of an arrhythmias, which may or may not require the usage of a pacemaker. Other than in cases, such as these the two are completely different and are used for different medical conditions.

Comparison between Stent and Pacemaker:

	Stent	Pacemaker
Description	A small metal or plastic tube with a mesh like pattern	A medical device which uses electrical impulses and runs on batteries
Purpose	To open up a blocked or narrow artery.	To allow the heart to maintain a regular heartbeat rhythm
Associated with	Blockages in arteries and other passageways, stroke, heart attack, prostatic hypertrophy, etc.	Irregular heartbeat, arrhythmia, etc.
Inserted via	Coronary angioplasty	Small Surgery using either local anesthetic or a general anesthetic.
Risk	Low Risk	Slightly higher risk, as it is a minor surgery
Age	Once a stent is there, it is in there. However, a blockage can redevelop where the stent is placed	Pacemaker batteries last between 5 and 15 years (average 6 to 7 years), depending on how active your pacemaker is.

Reference: Wikipedia (Stent and Pacemaker), WebMD, NIH (1, 2, 3), Medicinenet Image Courtesy: webmd.com, medlineplus.gov

ncG1vJloZrCvp2OxqrLFnqmeppOar6bA1p6cp2aZo7Owe8OinZ%2Bdopq7pLGMm5ytr5Wau26%2F056lrWWRo7FuvMCcnKaZm5q%2F