What is the purpose of placing a ventricular pacemaker in heart block cases?

In cases of heart block, a ventricular pacemaker is utilized primarily to assist or maintain adequate heart rhythm. Heart block can lead to a situation where the electrical signals that coordinate heartbeats are delayed or completely blocked, resulting in slow heart rates or irregular heart rhythms. This can significantly impair the heart's ability to pump blood effectively, potentially leading to symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, or fainting.

The pacemaker achieves its purpose by sending electrical impulses directly to the ventricles, prompting them to contract and thereby ensuring that the heart maintains an appropriate rate. This ability to stimulate the heart significantly improves cardiac output and symptom relief for patients suffering from various degrees of heart block.

While restoring normal blood flow and enhancing coronary artery perfusion can be beneficial outcomes of a properly paced heart rhythm, the primary role of the ventricular pacemaker is to maintain an adequate heart rhythm. Preventing myocardial infarction is more directly related to coronary artery health rather than the immediate function of a pacemaker in response to heart block scenarios.