Best Brand for Pacemaker

I am scheduled to have a pacemaker installed 12/3 and in doing research came across this site. An acquaintance of mine who had a St Jude pacemaker installed 6 years ago, had the wires melt and short out. This was installed 6 years ago and I have read many reports of problems with St Jude, but do not know if they have been corrected. I am pretty certain that I do not want a St Jude model, but do not know much about the other brands and would appreciate any recommendations or feedback. I realize that this maybe subjective as there might be some people that have had good luck with St Jude. I am just beginning my research so any information would be helpful.

7 Comments

All have had problems

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-12 06:11:25

Almost all brands of pacemakers have had problems. If you do research you'll find all sorts of stuff.

My EP regularly uses Medtronics, St. Jude's, and Boston Scientific. I think both to minimize exposure if one should have a problem and to tailor the PM to the patient needs.

I feel the question you should be asking is which brand of PM will fit your lifestyle the best.

I have Medtronics. Based upon comments on this forum I don't feel it would be the best if I were an avid bicycle enthusiast or a runner. I've had problems with chronotropic incompetence and you need a faster response from the PM for athletics.

For my lifestyle I'm very happy with the Medtronics. And since I suffer from afib, the Medtronics has APP (Atrial Preference Pacing) which sets up a counter beat to help reduce afib sessions. I had APP turned on and it has helped reduce my afib sessions. Needless to say, I'm very happy with my PM and would be reluctant to give it up.

Melting leads? I question that. Generating enough heat to melt plastics while inside your body sounds like an urban legend to me.

Hope you find a pacemaker brand that works best for you.

Lifestyle Recommendation

by ron1234 - 2014-11-12 07:11:00

As I stated I have just begun research, but have found that all of the brands of pacemakers have been recalled at one time or another. Did not know that different brands would fit different lifestyles.

I am 68 years old, retired and active, do not bike or run, but am constantly on the move. I do not sit much and hardly watch any tv. I do a great deal of heavy lifting, as I have old cars that I like to work on. I had a CABG X4 IN 2008, and have multiple stents. My heart rate runs between 40-50 and this is why I am having the pacemaker installed.

Based on my lifestyle which brand would you think would fit me?

It Depends...

by cheshirealice - 2014-11-12 07:11:07

Like TheKnotGuy said above, it really matters on what your heart condition is and your lifestyle. I don't need a pacemaker constantly but I'm a very active 27 yr old that won't take no for an answer physically.

My first PM was a medtronic that paced 33% of the time and I found myself out of breath often.

My newest PM is a Boston Scientific K172/K173 that has this sweet duel sensor and my pacing is down to 11%! It monitors my needs and paces appropriately. I hopefully have about 12 years left of life on it.

I would talk to your EP and your local PM representatives. They'd be glad to help you with your decision.

Best,
Erica

Per your comments

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-12 08:11:58

Per your comments. "I am 68 years old, retired and active, do not bike or run, but am constantly on the move." - I am headed for 65 at the end of December. Don't run or bike, but volunteer at a wood shop for a local charity. I'm on the move a lot. Will go in and work from anywhere from two to six hours. Hardly ever sit down during that time, usually eat lunch (two nutri-grain bars) while standing up. Only take a potty break.

Last week moved 2500 pounds of wood with a pallet jack. Regularly lift three pound (or more) pieces of wood, do some woodworking operation on it, then stack and shelve the pieces. Helped unload a truck today - a couple of thousand pounds of wood, then set up for a build tomorrow. Took down a 30' tree earlier this week.

In short I can do just about anything I want to do. The only problem I had was when I picked up a Sawzall saw, cut some wood with it, and the vibration from the saw set off the accelerometer in my PM. Wow, what a rush. I can run the Sawzall now, just have to make sure the vibration doesn't set off the PM.

I've been able to work around all sorts of electrical motors with no problems. Even jump started my daughter-in-law's car. Was leaning over running engines which is a definite no-no with a PM. No problems.

As indicated before I have a Medtronic Advisa DR MRI Surescan. It also has APP (Atrial Preference Pacing) that sets up a counter action for afib - which I have. Other brands of PM's may not have APP type settings. So if you don't need it, no reason to have it. (It's a software setting anyway.)

Hope this gives you some insight.

Have Cardiologist not EP

by ron1234 - 2014-11-12 11:11:19

Thank you all for the information. It seems like the brand of the pacemaker is really irrelevant, and what is important is the implantation and set up of the device.

My cardiologist is not an EP. Did not even occur to me that I would need one. He has performed other surgeries on me (stents etc), and has told me that he has installed hundreds of pacemakers, so I assumed he was qualified.
Would you recommend a second opinion with an EP?

Has anyone had a pacemaker implanted by a cardiologist with good results?

I can see that it is important to ask your potential surgeon questions, such as how many pacemaker operations they have performed, but what other things should I be asking them?

As far as complications, are there more problems like endocarditis, lung puncture etc when non EP install pacemakers?

cardiologist installing PM

by bluebowtye - 2014-11-13 09:11:51

Hi Ron,

Yes I had a cardiologist implant mine and I have had no problems whatsoever. I had never even heard of an EP until I found this site and that was after my surgery.

I think if you trust your doc and have been a patient of his for some time and feel comfortable with him doing it you should be fine going with him. Problems can happen to anyone know matter what "title" they have.

Good luck to you,
~Sheila

no EP yet

by rolson - 2014-11-16 12:11:22

I had a cardiologist install too as my EP was to busy and I needed PM asap. All went well but I still need EP for ablation. But I do feel better.

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