Results from Aveir Dual - Some updates are needed for Atrial Battery Life!

glad you saw this article before you implant

by new to pace.... - 2024-06-01 13:57:54

If it was me i would wait until they have a better battery life.  Do not know how young you are, but the thought of these devices inside my heart, does not appeal to me.  I currently have a Medtronic  MRI Sure Scan pacemaker  installed 2019. At that time was told battery good for at least 10 years.  but that does depend on how much one is paced.this past March 2024, i had 8.8 years left.  

new to pace

Battery life

by AgentX86 - 2024-06-01 14:53:19

I wouldn't go that way.  I wouldn't have even if I hadn't read this article.  They're simply too new, particularly the dual-chamber, to experiments on me.  I know that they say that they can be retrieved, but how many have been, and how many doctors have?

I don't understand this:

"If the system can be programmed to single-chamber mode at least once, however, those figures rise to 9.8 and 19.1 years, respectively."

What does "at least once" mean? Set it to single chamber for a minute after implant, then back to dual, and everything is peachy?  Certainly that's not what's meant.

If this thing is going to be programmed to single-chamber, what's the point?

Personally, I'd stick with the proven technology (the fact that I have a CRT, and am paced VVIR, means that I'm not a candidate anyway).

BTW, Dr. El Chami is my EP, though I won't see him again until I need a replacement in two years. This PVC crap might make it sooner.

Extractions may dictate what is decided

by Cat111 - 2024-06-01 15:02:28

Thanks for the responses - I am almost in my mid-40s so long term planning is important for me. I am getting my surgery at the Cleveland Clinic specifically because of the extractions I require - and that I have broken 3 leads - so I am weighing both - what the surgeon tells me after testing and if I go through that and keep leads will it even be harder in 10 years.  They are the main testing facility for the Aveir so I trust what he will decide and as we see even on here everyone's story and needs differ.  For mine, it is also that I am not American so it is out of pocket and I want to do what is truly the next best step.

Would love to hear from those who got recent pacers and what you got.

leadless

by new to pace.... - 2024-06-02 17:03:59

I have been thinking about this leadless option.  I know i will not be getting one.  That said.  Been wondering how this gets into one's heart.  Suppose that option cannot be used.  Do they leave this in your heart as am sure it cannot be pulled out the same way it went in.  How many can live in your heart.?   Since you are young.

Even tho your Doc is doing the trial does not make it a sure way for you.  personally i could go with the tried and true for now.  If your leads are not good i understand they can now be safely removed.  By the next generation of leadless you are still young enough to wait for the newer one.

new to pace

new to pace

by Tracey_E - 2024-06-02 18:43:56

The Micra is intended to be left in. Aveir is retrieved when they replace it. It is both placed and retrieved via catheter. 

I believe Cat is facing the same thing I am- leads that need replaced, extraction that is difficult at best, very high risk at worst. Aveir provides another option when the leads in place can't be used and may not be possible to extract. It's not ideal, I would prefer to wait unti they've had a lot more testing, but my battery has about 6 months left so I don't have the luxury of waiting to see how it goes. Aveir is still very much on the table for me.

leadless

by new to pace.... - 2024-06-02 20:18:52

I hope  will not have to make that decision. pretty sure  at the rate am going will now be near 90 years of age when the battery will be replaced. 

Hope  it all works well for you both.

Concerned about MRI with your old leads.

new to pace

old leads

by Tracey_E - 2024-06-03 09:32:20

The number one reason why I hope I will be able to extract is so I can have mri's. I always assumed I could not have an mri but my ep said that it can be done but there is a risk of damage to the heart (older leads can heat) so it would have to be a compelling reason.

 I chose not to extract in 2010 when my first lead went bad, hoping lead extraction would improve and that my next set of leads would be my last, or that leadless would improve to the point I wouldn't need a second set of leads.

If you are considering leadless watch this

by Cat111 - 2024-06-04 06:50:24

I am posting this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9an9_h41QEg

It is worth a watch.

A factor for those of us considering and younger is: what will be worse - needing another atrial leadless in 6 or so years or another extraction (if even possible) in 10ish...

My countdown is on so taking in as much data as I can find before my testing day 1 at Cleveland.

video

by Tracey_E - 2024-06-04 11:00:55

My take from the video is overall it's very positive. Would be nice if we had a few more years to wait and watch! It's promising, but a year and 600 patients isn't a lot. 

I'm less worried about replacing the device than needing another extraction down the road. Extraction is a much higher risk surgery, and the veins can only take so much.

6 years is a long time for them to improve the devices. Odds are the next one will have massive improvements. 

Updated Thought Process on What I am going to do

by Cat111 - 2024-06-05 06:37:12

I agree with Tracey and if I lived in the US would stay the course with the leadless.  I am still trying to see if Abbott is going to start implementing and following up in Canada and my procedure is literally in 2 weeks so I am in a race against time.

From all I have read, learned and been told - I feel that the procedure to replace the atrial would be easier than an extraction and I would really prefer to let the veins heal after this and not touch them again.

I know the diagnostics may say otherwise as this will be the most extensive testing I have ever done in my life.

If I get any other studies I will post as since I am a practitioner I have access.

Cat

Aveir Dual Leadless

by MG73 - 2024-06-07 17:14:25

I agree with the last users - I am planning to go the dual leadless way for my first PM if needed being 51 soon. There is no way of really knowing if 6.5 years is the max battery  time for the atrial PM or as they say in the video it can be adusted. Furthermore I believe it can be retrieved and when replacing next time they might have improved the battery time.