Pacemaker comparisons

I have sinus bradycardia with no other issues. I consider myself a fair, not great, online researcher; however, I am having difficulty finding current relevant information comparing various pacemaker models and their problems from non-manufacturer sources. The pacemaker club has been of some help, but I would like more, broader based sources to complete my evaluations.

Thanks.

4 Comments

Good luck with that....

by Theknotguy - 2015-11-07 07:11:02

If you find anything, let me know. Most of that is well hidden within the manufacturer's web pages. Really hard to get a comparison unless you are a medical doctor and have direct access. Same for medical people in the hospital. They have a number for a direct line into the manufacturer's rep. The patients don't. Very frustrating.

Problem, of course being, they control the info. So you can get really bad information from the hospital at your discharge and don't really have a good way to get good, solid info. That's why the Pacemaker Club is so popular. You're trying to figure out something. When you call the manufacturer they say to call your EP. When you call the EP, they either don't return the call or turn you over to a "nurse" who doesn't have a clue. When you finally do talk to your EP, sometimes all you get is a shrug.

At least on this forum I can ask a question and get some really solid info. May not be what I want to hear, or it may be the same as what I've heard at the EP's office, but at least I've gotten an answer without waiting a week.

To address your question.... In my area (Ohio, USA) my EP switches between St. Jude, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. About 33% each. That way if there is a manufacturing problem he'll only see it in about 1/3 of his latest patients. There are other manufacturers but you don't hear of them as much. There is some speculation there is only one manufacturing plant. They make all the PM's and just change the label before shipping out. Don't know if that is true or not.

Between the three there are minor differences and will work for most everyone. All three have had recalls at some time. All three have had problems. All three seem to do a good job too.

If you do extreme exercise, you might want to post a question on the forum and see what responses you get. People who do biking seem to do better with one type over another. Same for running, swimming, weight lifting, and other extreme sports.

If you are moderately active, any of the three probably will work well. My Medtronic has an accelerometer and it works well for me when I'm out hiking or working in the wood shop. Others on the forum will tell you the accelerometer isn't the best way to go for some sports.

I have afib and Medtronic and (I think) Boston Scientific have a software program for that. The afib program in my Medtronic has worked well for me but I haven't heard anyone else make any comments about it on the forum. So if you have afib, you'll want to discuss options with your EP.

The final decision as to which model you get comes down to what your EP and you decide with the EP having the last say. People who like to have control over their lives really don't like that, but this is a critical piece of equipment and decisions like that need an up-to-date, currently informed person making the decision. You don't want to have the decision made based upon some slick piece of advertising on TV. There are many ins and outs with heart problems and the EP's are trained to figure out which would be the best match. Sometimes that boils down to a gut feeling and experience. Other times it's same-old-problem, same-old-fix.

I was in the middle of a six day coma when I got mine so I didn't have the angst other people had. Woke up with the thing implanted and working. Doctor who did the implant must have made the decision based upon what he heard when they brought me in unconscious. I was out hiking so the hiking outfit musta tipped him off. I'm ambidextrous, and woke up with it on my left side. The only thing that's stopped me from doing is shooting high powered rifles. But since I haven't done shooting for about 30 years I don't really miss it.

If I were in your position, I'd make a list of what you currently do with exercise, then have a heart-to-heart with your EP. Ask him if he sees any advantage of one over another for you. After that, you'll be taking your chances. At least you may get a say in what you have. Like I said, I woke up with mine so I've just had to learn to live with it - at least until the battery runs down and I get to swap out. Right now, the EP would get an argument if he wanted me to switch to something else. It's under my skin and I've become attached to it.

Overall my PM has been a help instead of a hindrance. Other than a couple of funny situations I'm leading a better than 100% life compared to what I had before the PM. (Didn't know the dog shaking the tug rope would set off my accelerometer. What a rush!)

Hope this gives you a little better insight. Like I said, if you find something, would like to know.

Hope everything goes well for you. Let us know when you get yours so we can welcome you to the club.

its the representatives .....

by oldearthworm - 2015-11-07 07:11:38

St Judes, Medtronic, Boston ...., similar to the old Chevy, Ford, Plymouth debate of the previous century ..But, the human factor is so very important .If you luck out and discover a "good salesman", then "buy" him and his product ..
Be successful
You are very smart to be doing this research now.. I, too, was diagnosed with bradycardia and a St Judes was implanted as an emergency ..zero time for research ...

Great Responses

by RK - 2015-11-07 10:11:11

Right on target. I do appreciate it.

I've heard a lot of favorable comments about the units you mentioned. I haven't heard or read as much about Biotronik units. Somewhere in my research, I reached a favorable opinion about them. St. Judes seem to be common on this site, though. I'm not overly active and will need MRIs in the future, but apparently all brands can accommodate MRIs now.

Whenever I ask the EPs, the answer is always "there are several good brands." I assumed they did not want to be pinned down, i.e., shift the responsibility to the patient for the decision. I had not considered they may wish to spread the risk for their own purposes.

Ask a lot of questions

by TJ319 - 2015-11-09 01:11:44

I had a St. Jude implanted for Bradycardia and SSS. I was very fit and into tri sports. Dual lead DDDR technology. After a year, I had not returned to my old fitness level and began to experience Tachycardia in increasing frequency and duration. I had to change EP docs when my original guy left the area. Fortunately, my new doc figured out that I was experiencing Pacemaker Mediated Tachycardia. He was able to reprogram my Pacemaker, but has told me that Medtronic has a device that actually corrects for this.

I'd recommend you discuss your symptoms very thoroughly with your doctor to be sure that the device chosen matches your specific condition.

You know you're wired when...

You participate in the Pacer Olympics.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.