Guidant Problem!

I had a Guidant Insignia 1290 implanted in January of 2006. (This is NOT a recalled model at this time.) I have previously wrtten here about subsequent problems that began the moment I woke up from surgery and was experiencing constant shocking from the pacemaker, and how my EP who implanted it refused to even acknowledge that this condition existed.

This misery continued for several months until I found a new Electrophysiologist who took seriously my complaints of constant "shocking," and took action, identified the problem, and was able to fine-tune the pacemaker to a point that has made it at least tolerable and livable.

But now a serious new problem, and I'm going in the hospital for an angiogram tomorrow. This angiogram, as well as an echocardiogram and a 2-day stress test that I had last week might not have all been necessary if my pacemaker was doing its secondary job of proper data collection.

When I saw my EP and my cardiologist three weeks ago after experiencing sudden tachycardia and atrial fibrillation that persisted with weakness, and was confirmed with a echocardiogram, they assumed that the event would have been recorded in my pm's memory. By downloading the data, it would have indicated exactly when and what happened to my heart, and that this info would help lead to the course of treatment.

This is a secondary benefit of having a pacemaker, in that the newer models have the memory capacity to record cardiac events over several months. But when my EP proceded to download my data this time, only the past three days had been accurately recorded, and all previous data had been overwritten.

He immediately got on the phone with the Guidant rep (while I'm still in the exam room with the wand on my chest) and inquired if there was any way of retrieving this lost data. He was told, "No, it's gone."

My cardiologist feels I definitely have a legal case with Guidant, as it has always given several months of time-dated info and in this case, this info was critical, and might have saved me the need to pursue all this testing.

Your thoughts would be very helpful.

Thank you.

6 Comments

Go Sue Guidant

by ted - 2007-05-30 06:05:32

By all means get yourself a lawyer and see if you have a case against Guidant. This disreputable company hurt and deceived a lot of innocent people by continuing to sell defective pacemakers and ICD's to keep making profits while people were dying. Those of us walking around with Guidant products would not have allowed them to be put into our bodies if Guidant had told the truth about what it knew, rather than engage in a cover-up. Shame on Guidant. Let us know your progress. Ted

I know the feeling as well!

by Dodiad71 - 2007-05-30 06:05:50

Hello,

My doctor implanted a Guidant Insignia 1290 in me a month BEFORE the recall was issued and when the cause of the problem leading to the recall hadn't even been found yet.

To this day I am still outraged by all of this. This 1290 also replaced another device that was on recall--a Pulsar Max 1270.

Despite all of my complaints, my doctor still was interested in giving me another Guidant after the second one was removed.

And this is all occurring at one of the largest medical systems in the country and one of the "best" in my state. This is a shame, because this is the only EP I had ever liked and I believe they only get worse than this where I live. I don't believe much of anything these EP doctors tell me any longer.

And even though you say your machine is not currently on recall, it likely has been in the past. Mine was, and after I was already mentally and emotionally distraught, more salt was rubbed into that wound when they said mine was no longer on recall. Like the others have posted, you cannot trust this company. It's a shame it appears the doc who gave you this apparently hasn't learned a lesson.

I am thinking about you.

Your in my thoughts!

by tcrabtree85 - 2007-05-30 11:05:10

I will be praying for you and really hope that things work out. Please keep us updated on how all the tests come out. Stay strong things will work out. You are in my thougths and prayers!
Blessings,
Tammy

Go get 'em!

by auntiesamm - 2007-05-30 12:05:13

Hello My Friend - I am sickened by your situation! In May 2006 I had a Guidant 1290 Insignia pacemaker implanted AFTER they had been recalled, etc.. It was on this site shortly thereafter that a message posted from Ted about Guidant problems. I was furious when I found out mine was recalled and raised a ruckus with my cardiology group, the hospital and Guidant. It made me feel better but they did not offer any kind of solution that was practical.

Please pay attention to what Ted has posted. He is an attorney - with a Guidant pacemaker no less - and is invaluable to us. I support you 150% in going after these crooks and criminals. Yes, it is a criminal act for them to have continued selling these recalled devices. I could go on and on but won't. Just know that this Guidant victim will be cheering you on as I am sure others will, too. Don't let them wear you down as they will attempt to do! Let my good thoughts and prayers lift you up............keep us posted. Good luck and God bless you.
Sharon

Mis GUIDant implant

by SuperBionic - 2007-05-31 01:05:01

Hello,

I am thankful for this post. Go after them. Research all the info you can about the problem you are facing. I know of a medtronic technition who stirred me away from a guidant. Here is my story.

I was going to receive a pacemaker for emergancy placement and did not have anytime to research. Basically I was going forward on blind faith. God was definenantly watching out for me. My father-in-law flew down from Spokane, WA for support. As he was on the way I called some of my own support lines and asked about getting a pacemaker. I spoke to a guidant tech and he said he would be more than happy to GUID my through the procdedure. I just needed to personnally request him for the procedure.

My father then arrives and talks to me about specifically not getting a guidant because the company, boston scinetific, has been living off of their name and letting their product quality falter. My father-in-law said he spoke to our mutual friend, who is a Medtronic tech, and he said not to get a Guidant at any cost. I can get anyother kind but not to get a Guidant.

Well, let's just say I am 4 weeks out from surgery and feel great.

If you want to talk to my friend, I would be more than happy to see if he would be willing to talk to you.

Be blessed as you proceed.
Clark

guidant

by luckyloo - 2007-05-31 11:05:23

dear chiliman,

i still have my recalled guidant ventrak prism 2 defibrillator in. we're waiting for the battery to drain before replacing it because every replacement surgery ups the chances of serious infection. my defib was implanted late april 2002, just after they fixed the problem with the ventrak prism 2's and they allowed the defective ones to be implanted with them knowing they were defective. i am still so angry. this whole incident has crushed my trust in so many ways in regards to healthcare. i wish i would have sued just to teach them a lesson. if we all sit back and do nothing, how are these company's going to learn they can't do this kind of thing. they should have consequences.

luckyloo

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