Pacemaker battery procedure

Common Questions and Answers about Pacemaker battery procedure

pacemaker

Avatar f tn Pacemaker batteries will not run out unexpectedly. When a battery is running low, the elective replacement indicator (ERI) is activated. Physicians can detect this activation during a routine office visit. In addition, the battery status and the general functioning of the pacemaker can be tested over the telephone. This is generally done every one to two months.
Avatar f tn My pacemaker battery had been dead for over a year and a half, and I just now was told that the pacemaker will have to be removed because it can damage the heart if it doesn't have a battery. Is this true? Incidentally, my pacemaker had not been activated for several years, as it was set for the minimum and didn't ever have to kick in.
Avatar m tn is there a hospital stay to replace battery in a pacemaker, or same day procedure
Avatar m tn I realize that you have a lot of history with your mother and her pacemaker, but modern pacemakers don't just "die". When the battery voltage drops to a certain level. The pacemaker will go into an "end of life mode" (battery, not person). It's sort of a last ditch conservation mode until the battery can be replaced. What happens then is the pacemaker will fire to a preset pulse rate. It will no longer take into account what the user's heart is doing.
Avatar f tn I have a medtronic pacemaker,battery change next year,but can low blood pressure be due to low battery, also had stent put in august, 90% lad clogged. I have the pacer that's not defublator, pressure drops to low kicks in. I have been feeling dizzy tired no appetite, nauseated, but have to eat because of meds have to take. I am having pain in my chest and kind of short of breath.
Avatar n tn This seems like a very difficult situation for you and your family. The best way to begin addressing this question is to ask your cardiologist whether your mother is "pacemaker dependent" or not. Pacemaker dependent means that the heart is reliant on the pacemaker, and without it, the heart cannot pump fast enough to meet the demands of the body. (There are others who need the pacemaker infrequently as a "back-up", for the rare times when the heart rate slows down).
Avatar n tn If she is indeed pacemaker dependent, and she has had a pacemaker for this long then most likely once the battery is fully depleted then she will no longer have a stable ventricular escape rhythm. She may pass away from asystole in a few minutes, hours or days, one is unable to predict exactly when it will occur. If she is lucid and competent then she should be able to make the decision not to undergo the device change-out procedure.
Avatar f tn How do you know the "batteries need replacing"? Modern pacemakers don't just "die". When the battery voltage drops to a certain level. The pacemaker will go into an "end of life mode" (battery, not person). It's sort of a last ditch conservation mode until the battery can be replaced. What happens then is the pacemaker will fire to a preset pulse rate. It will no longer take into account what the user's heart is doing.
Avatar m tn It would be nice if your mom had a little plastic door that could be popped open and the old batteries taken out and a new set of double A's dropped in. Such is not the case though, obviously. In fact "battery replacement" is a misnomer. In actuality, the entire pacemaker is replaced. The leads from the heart are literally unplugged from the unit, the old unit is removed, and replaced by a completely new one loaded with a fresh battery.
Avatar f tn s also a delicate procedure. Changing out the unit when the battery is low is pretty straight forward. But removing the leads is not. They aren't something that can be tugged out like removing a grape stem. This is something to discuss with your cardiologist, express your concerns, fears. There must be a reason why the pacemaker was put in.
Avatar f tn All pacemakers need to be replaced eventually because the battery runs down, and it's a safe and normally a routine procedure. The existing leads will be attached to the new pacemaker. It's possible an additional lead will be inserted. I'm sure your husband doesn't look forward to having the procedure again!
Avatar m tn I am really surprised. My mom had a pacemaker and was told the battery needed to be changed once every five yrs. I remember that clearly. Maybe your friend has a different type of pacemaker. By the way, my mom had mitral valve prolapse and lived to age 92 and ONLY cauz she stopped eating at the nursing home. It runs in my moms family. All her sisters lived to be in their mid 90's and one was 103 ! My mom was born in 1913. I have inherited mvp too.
Avatar f tn Doctors will not operate on AAA or pacemaker replacement due to frailness. What can I expect as the battery on the pacemaker fails?
Avatar m tn Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure involving the implantation of pacemaker-like battery pack in your chest connected to electrodes terminating in a specific part of your brain. DBS can help lessen motor symptoms of stiffness, slowness and tremor.
Avatar f tn In Feb.2008 I had a battery change. Since that date, there is a lead outline visible in the skin, the PM is floating toward my underarm when I sleep on that side. I am uncomfortable but the functionality of the PM is working. My issue is that I have been given the option of having a smaller PM inserted, repositioning of pocket and the leads tucked under the PM. SInce I thought I was through all this in February's changeout, I am having a difficult time making a decision.
Avatar n tn i had 3 open heart surgery and on my 2nd. pacemaker.. my first pacemaker last me for 18yrs. and just got my 2nd. pacemaker Dec.2006.. my pacemaker was implanted in my upper chest on the right side.. only thing i hate the surgery doctor told me he would use the same cut as the other pacemaker but when i woke up he cut me in another spot.. well i can say.. ask your doctor his he using the same cut as the first pacemaker was in..
Avatar n tn Need an upgraded pacemaker? Pacemaker recall? What kind and what brand of your pacemaker? Do you have the serial number? You can directly contact the producer and find out why? Mine is St Jude and implanted in 2002. Still got 3 years to go. Once stage they said all the professional needed to download a programme because it reading the battery life in error. The programme in error but NOT the pacemaker itself. http://www.medscape.
Avatar f tn 3 weeks ago I had a Pacemaker replacement due to the fact my battery on my Pacemaker was running low. The new Pacemaker installed is a Medtronic Adapta. Since the new pacemaker my Heart beat has been all over the place. My 1st Enrhythym was paced at 80 bpm, and it pretty much stayed like that for 5.5 years until the battery started to go. The problem is is that the new Pacemaker is not like that at all! My heartbeat goes from 56 to 93, back to 71 then 86, and has gone a high as 100.
Avatar m tn ll offer the following. 100% pacemaker dependent says to me one has to be very careful about protecting the pacemaker and its ability to run (battery, other?). We are all dependent on our heart beating or face sudden death. For those pacemaker dependent that means (to me) the pacemaker has to keep running. If you have not been given detailed instructions on what to watch out for or stay away from you should seek this information from the professional who installed/prescribed the pacemaker.
Avatar m tn If you have an ICD-CRT device (also with defibrillator), your doctor can leave the ICD turned on and change the pacemaker (ventricular pacing) as a backup if needed (e.g. when your own pacemaker runs too slowly or if appears a blockade between the upper and lower part of the heart). You can discuss about this option to your doctor and define with him the pros and cons. Good luck.
Avatar m tn will go to some sort of national healthcare system before 2016, In 2018 the battery in my pacemaker will likely be exhausted. I do not need the pacemaker to live but but without it I would have a heartrate between 40 & 42 bpm - i.e. not one to allow me to be very active at all. In 2018 I will be a 67 year old type 2 diabetic who is likely retired (or at least semi-retired) and has a couple of other medical problems. My procedure a year ago cost over $40k.
Avatar f tn My Dad is in stage 5 vascular dementia. His pacemaker reports that he has 6 months batter life. Because of the prognosis, we have decided to not replace the pacemaker. He is 100% dependent on the pacemaker. What should I expect when the battery runs out? His doctor told me that it won't just quit at that time. They really don't know how long the pacemaker could last. I'm worried about pain. I will be discussing this with his PCP and his cardiologist.
Avatar n tn My father aged 100 has decided not to replace his pacemaker battery and in September was told he had 3 months life left in it. To date is is almost 4 months - can anyone give me the symptoms he will experience when the battery starts to wind down - will death be immediate or slow? He has no underlying heart rythym - can the doctors be wrong when they give this diagnosis? Currently there are no obvious signs of failure.
Avatar n tn hi, i am 38 years old and have been offered av node ablation by my cardiololgist, i had a pacemaker fitted just over a year and a half ago but i am still having big problems with tachachardia, palpatations etc can anyone tell what the risks are, i have been told that there could develop heart failure and will have further heart problems in the future, i am scared that it won't work or i will be worse, can anyone give me some advice, i also had a hole in my heart fixed when i was 5 and have