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More recently, a new technology has been developed. A biventricular pacemaker has two separate leads that go to the heart. Each lead goes to one of the large pumping chambers (ventricles). This device can be helpful in treating patients with heart failure. In heart failure, the ventricles can become enlarged and then the two ventricles pump at separate times. This makes the pumping less efficient than normal and makes the heart failure worse. Biventricular pacing can time the ventricles so they are pumping together again. That is why this is sometimes called “Resynchronization Therapy”; the ventricles are synchronized so that they pump together again. Restoring their ability to work as a team can reduce patient symptoms and improve heart function.
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