Pacific Islands Pacemaker Services (PIPS)

Dedicated to providing a pacemaker service to the people of the pacific islands

PIPS - Pacific Islands Pacemaker Services

WHO WE ARE

We are an organisation of volunteers delivering life-saving pacemaker services.

Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD’s) are life-preserving interventions for those suffering from cardiac rhythm disorders. Sadly, because of the cost of devices and a lack of expertise in the field, most of the Pacific islands do not offer Cardiac Implantable device services. This unmet need results in people dying from cardiac arrests or very slow heart rates or cardiac arrests.

PIPS is dedicated to sending teams of experts to save as many lives as possible through device implantation and follow-up. The multi-disciplinary teams include doctors, nurses, and cardiac physiologists, all of whom volunteer their time and expertise in the pursuit of improved health outcomes. Demand for our services continues to grow, with the number of device checks performed increasing 155% in the last decade.

Clinic & Post-Surgical Device Checks

Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Electrophysiology Studies

WHAT WE DO

01.

— Surgical Implantation

In patients identified as requiring a pacemaker or ICD, small wires known as leads are directed through the veins and fixed to the chambers of the heart. These are then connected to the device itself, which is implanted on top of the pectoral muscle of the chest.

02.

— Clinic Follow-Up

Once implanted, the ongoing management of the device is achieved through connection to a specialised computer called a programmer. This allows the team to optimise the battery life, adjust any required settings, and review rhythm disorders stored in the device’s memory.

03.

— Electrophysiology Studies

For those suffering from abnormally fast heart rhythms, catheter ablation can be a curative procedure. In 2025, our team performed the first catheter ablation in Fiji.