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Richard S. Blacher, MD; Samuel H. Basch, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1970;22(4):319-323.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

THE implantation of a cardiac pacemaker is a procedure of dramatic importance to the patient, but an operation so commonplace that is is considered routine by the medical staff. Although external electrodes were used in 1952 to pace the heart,¹ it was only in 1957 that the technique of internal implantation in the myocardium was developed.² Since it was first undertaken as a treatment for heart block, the techniques of insertion and the devices used have been progressively refined and a considerable literature regarding surgical technique has resulted. Surprisingly, a procedure of such profound psychological impact on the recipient has aroused little psychiatric interest and references to it in the psychiatric literature are few.^3,4

The implanted pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device which rhythmically stimulates the myocardium at a controllable rate. It is used for the treatment of heart block when . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
New York

From the Department of Psychiatry, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

Footnotes
Submitted for publication July 17, 1969.

Reprint requests to The Mount Sinai Hospital, 100th St and Fifth Ave, New York 10029 (Dr. Basch).

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