Pacemaker History - COMPLETE

I found the most comprehensive history of the learning curve and the pacemaker I have ever come across. Some may have already seen this, but it was new to me. I have always had an interest in the history of pacemakers since my grandfather was one of the first PM patients at the Cleveland Clinic in the early 1960's. He needed a battery change with his first couple generators after about 1 to 1 1/2 years. The very first PM patient Arne Larsson had the very first PM implanted on October 8th 1958. He eventually required five lead systems and 22 pulse generators of 11 different models until his death on December 28th 2001 at age 86. He died from cancer that was not at all related to his cardiac problem. 

Anyway, here is the link: Enjoy!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3232561/?report=classic

3 Comments

Good Dog

by Gemita - 2020-01-29 15:49:10

Thank you so much for posting the Pacemaker History link - I look forward to reading it after supper (and hubby does too since we both have little devices ticking away). 

It is incredible how times have changed and how much we take for granted today and yet still expect more and more from our doctors and the devices they implant.  Pacemakers are so streamlined today, efficient and getting smaller.  How bulky they were - what a burden to carry around.  Can you imagine having to have so many battery changes, all those leads, pulse generators as your grandfather had over his lifetime ?  He must have spent so much time in hospital.  Did he tell you lots of stories about his experience ?  And may I ask why he had the pacemaker implanted ?  

My Grandfather

by Good Dog - 2020-01-29 16:56:34

My grandfather (on my Dad's side, my grandmother died before I was born) had complete heart block (I am not certain, but I think that is correct) for some time before he received the PM. Unfortunately, my Dad and his father were astranged as were the other 11 children. They were a poor family and as I understand it, my grandfather was very abusive. My Dad didn't talk about it, but several of my aunts and uncles told me a few stories. So I didn't know as much about him as I would have liked or as it would have been in a normal family. However, I do remember visiting him a couple times in the late 1950's and he was always sick in bed. They tell me he spent a lot of time sick in bed before he had the opportunity to get the PM. So I don't know if maybe he was going from 2nd degree to 3rd degree and back. I'm just not sure. My aunts and uncles told me that they took turns caring for him. So I do know that the quality of his life was not good and improved dramatically after the pacemaker. He came to visit a couple of times after he got the PM which was something he didn't do before the implant. My dad took him in for the battery change on a couple occasions and all the kids took turns taking him back and forth to the clinic. He spent a lot of time going back and forth to the Cleveland Clinic. He lived to the age of 91. 

Your grandfather

by Gemita - 2020-01-29 19:10:48

Thank you so much for sharing a very personal story.  It must have been a very diffucult time for your father and his brothers and sisters growing up in such a household.  Illness can bring out the very worst in some of us and it is always those closest who have to bear the anger and abuse from those they love.  I can't help wondering how your grandfather would have behaved if he had been a well person.  Hopefully he made his "peace" with everyone towards the end of his life.  Great age too to have reached 91.  Well done Cleveland Clinic

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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.