The device implanted in US Vice-President Dick Cheney's chest should allow him to continue his active work schedule, doctors said yesterday. Mr Cheney was on Saturday fitted with what is known as a "pacemakerplus" at George Washington Hospital, where he has been treated three times for cardiac troubles since his election as vice-president.
The $25,000 device is a "self-contained emergency room in the chest" that monitors the beating heart, Dr Douglas Zipes, the President of the American College of Cardiology, said. "He's in perfect shape now to continue full activity, and know he's protected from having any serious problem," Dr Zipes said, speaking in broad terms as he is not Mr Cheney's personal physician, but echoing remarks made by Dr Jonathan Reiner, the vice-president's cardiologist.
"Should the heartbeat get too slow, it will pace it to make it go faster. If the heartbeat gets too fast, it will act to slow it down," Dr Zipes said.
The device will not prevent a heart attack, but can, if necessary, shock a potentially fatal rapid cardiac rhythm back to normal, said Dr Lawrence Altman, a New York Times medical analyst, on NBC.
"It will trigger an electric shock and stop" the heart from beating irregularly, Dr Altman said. Mr Cheney underwent angioplasty in November after suffering his fourth heart attack since 1978.