Pacemakers and cardiac devices in 2020

Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are increasingly common with an estimated 1.5 million devices implanted each year. Since the first pacemaker was implanted by Ake Senning in 1958 for treatment of complete heart block, CIEDs have evolved beyond treatment of bradycardias to include resynchronisation therapies for heart failure, defibrillators to prevent sudden arrhythmic death, and monitoring devices for various arrhythmias. The past decade has seen significant evolution in device design, implantation techniques, and pacing-algorithms in order to achieve more physiological pacing and avoid long-term complications. General physicians and non-cardiology specialists are highly likely to encounter pacemakers and other CIEDs. As