St Jude vs Medtronics

Going to get PM in a couple of week, I'm not sure I get a choice of PM but interested in getting feedback on issues with either. Heart issue is Bradycardia, Thanks.

5 Comments

Depends on how active you are

by IAN MC - 2015-12-12 07:12:41

I currently have a Medtronic but will be asking for a Boston Scientific at my next changeover.

If you are active and into running, cycling, skiing etc and if you are chronotropically incompetent ( i.e your heart rate doesn't increase with exercise the way it should) then the Medtronic is not satisfactory . This is because it's rate-response sensor relies only on upper body movement to put in extra heart beats.. This is not very physiological and you will find your stamina and exercise performance is reduced; the PM simply cannot keep up with the demands which your heart is requiring.

I think St Jude has similar limitations to Medtronic but I may be wrong on that.

Boston Scientific PMs have dual sensors, one relies on upper body movement the other is triggered by your breathing ( a minute ventilation sensor ) . For sporting activities where there is little body movement such as cycling the dual sensor is much better.

If you are not into regular aerobic exercise , or if you are not chronotroopically incompetent it doesn't make a scrap of difference which make you get. Both will satisfactorily deal with your bradycardia.

Because I like to be very active I really regret having been given a Medtronics PM. Despite spelling out my lifestyle to the Dr doing the implant he fitted the wrong make of PM for me.

Ian

Ian MC is correct

by Theknotguy - 2015-12-12 09:12:55

I've got the Medtronic and it works really well for me. But I'm not doing the heavy exercise that others are doing.

I have afib, and Medtronics has models out that have a program and hardware that mitigate afib sessions. The older models had APP (Atrial Preference Pacing) and the newer ones have Minerva. It's an upgraded version of APP that has multi-response to afib.

Doctors in this area go between Boston Scientific, St. Jude, and Medtronic. So if you don't have afib and aren't as active in your exercise, you could get any of the three if you lived here.

I do a lot of walking. Also work in the wood shop moving wood and working with tools. The Medtronic does well for me. It has an accelerometer and other than a couple of situations the accelerometer has done what I've needed.

EP's are considered the brainiacs of doctors. Very few can read the squiggles like the EP's can. So sometimes even when you've discussed what you would like, they'll make an informed decision and go with a model other than what you chose. Sometimes they see something in the squiggles that one model will address better than the other. (Sorry Ian, maybe your EP saw something he didn't discuss with you?)

I hope you can have an informed discussion with your EP and that he can match you with something that will match your life style.

brands

by Tracey_E - 2015-12-14 02:12:27

What causes the brady? If it's from av block, any of them will do. If it's sinus issues and you'll be using rate response, there are some differences between them. Talk to your dr, they know best.

Other than that, they are both excellent so you can't go wrong. Some drs have a better relationship with the reps with one or the other. It's not the device so much as who will be programming it so go with the one your doc prefers. I'm on my 4th SJM, have had the same rep since 1994. He knows my situation inside and out and has always gone the extra mile to make sure I can do whatever I want. I was offered Medtronic last time because it had a feature that might have been useful. I decided to keep the SJM because no feature was worth starting over again with another rep.

Thanks for the feedback

by purdue1177 - 2015-12-15 05:12:15

I've heard both are good but not sure if there's more problems with one or the other. I've been told my heart is in good shape, more of the electrical issue. I am active in the sense that I walk 3 miles a day, eat well and take of myself.. I am 70 yrs old so I think I'm doing pretty good with no other health issues. My son heard that the metronics was the best based on a friend who's had experience with both, that's the reason for posting the question, again thanks to all for the feedback any more feedback is appreciated..

more brands

by Tracey_E - 2015-12-17 02:12:46

I wouldn't say Medtronic is necessarily THE best. It's the largest, yes. It's one of the best, along with St Judes, Sorin, Biotronik. It's unusual for any of them to have recalls, but the most recent recall was just last month and it was .... Medtronic.

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