Pacemakers – Mortality rate once fitted.

Following a quintiple heart bypass at age 35 in 1984, I got into
severe arrythmia 3 years ago. My doctors took a year trying to get it
under control with every drug possible but to no avail and decided
(with my full agreement as it was no fun going into 240 bpm mode!)
to sever the natural pacemaker and fit a pacemaker implant.

I have to say that it was the best remedial action ever and dont
regret it at all, but my doctors are a bit reluctant to tell me what
the statistics are for my life expectancy.  This is no morbid question
on my part, as I am enjoying life to the full, but it would be useful
for me to have SOME idea of that the statistics are for those fitted
with artificial pacemakers.  Of course, statistics are just that, and
realise that I may drop down dead tomorrow or live to a ripe old age,
but it helps to know that either they are very successful or
otherwise.

Is there someone that can give me useful pointers?

3 Responses to “Pacemakers – Mortality rate once fitted.”

  1. admin says:

    Hello:

    I was wondering if you have any information on a recall of a pacemaker
    made by "Pacesetter".  The recall if for some defective wiring that
    doesn’t send 100% of the electrical charge to the heart.  My mother-in-law
    has a PULSE GENERATOR  2028L (SERIAL #20922) and was told that she has one
    of the defective pace makers.  She only has a couple of weeks to make up
    her mind as to whether or not to have the old wires removed (that go
    directly into the heart!)  and risk open heart or do something else that
    is less effective. The defective wires were made my "Siemens".

    I don’t know if you would know anything about this or not but I thought I
    would take a shot.  Thanks for you time.

    Dave: (Mass…@aol.com)

  2. admin says:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    dave…@dircon.co.uk (Dave Newell) wrote:

    >I have to say that it was the best remedial action ever and dont
    >regret it at all, but my doctors are a bit reluctant to tell me what
    >the statistics are for my life expectancy.  This is no morbid question
    >on my part, as I am enjoying life to the full, but it would be useful
    >for me to have SOME idea of that the statistics are for those fitted
    >with artificial pacemakers.  Of course, statistics are just that, and
    >realise that I may drop down dead tomorrow or live to a ripe old age,
    >but it helps to know that either they are very successful or
    >otherwise.

    >Is there someone that can give me useful pointers?

    You may want to look at Medtronic’s Web site for general information on
    pacemakers–http://www.medtronic.com/public/medtronic/customer/

    John Swoyer
    Medtronic, Inc.
    7000 Central Ave. NE            phone: (612) 574-4554 fax: (612) 574-3362)
    Mpls, MN 55432                  email: john.swo…@medtronic.com

  3. admin says:

    Survival is related to the natural disease treated.  Has nothing to do
    with the pacer at all.  It is the underlying condition that determines
    survival.  The pacer with new batteries lasts forever.  I have done over
    2,000 pacemakers.  No pacer deaths in 29 years of implanting.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.