What is the difference between a defibrillator and a pacemaker?

What they do: Some pacemakers include defibrillators and some do not. A "regular" pacemaker simply sets the heart rate or helps to control the rate at which the heart beats. An implated defibrillator, usually is also a pacemaker, but constantly monitors the heart for dangerous heart rate types and delivers an eclectric shock to try and return the irregular heart rate to normal.

Many differences: A pacemaker is used in the case of slow heart beats or blocked electrical conduction between upper and lower chambers (av block). A defibrillator will 'shock' (defibrillate) the heart in the case if abnormal life threatening fast heart beats (ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia). All defibrillators have a back-up pacemaker in them, but pacemakers cannot defibrillate the heart.