Medtronics Enrythm Battery Life Problem

Hi Folks, I'm new to the club and have appreciated the comments I've read so far.

I just found out that my pacer battery error may have been resolved by a software update after I just got it replaced.

Jan 2006 I had an Medtronics Enrythm Pacemaker installed for type 2 heart blockage. I have both atrial and ventricular leads put in.

After 5-1/2 years of pacing about 16% of the time, I got a battery EOL (end of life) message during a routine pacer check. It had been that way for about 4 months, still pacing, but not as much.

So I got a new Medtronics Adapta ADDRl1 pacemaker put in the other day. The Medtronics tech will send it in to see what the issue was. I should have gotten about 8 years of 100% dual pacing.

As I was getting my medical information updated, I ran across the following alert from Medtronics about an error on battery life. see the site at http://wwwp.medtronic.com/productperformance/document.html?id=200056#one.

It looks like a software update in the pacer may have shown I had more battery life and could have gone longer before replacement.

The good news is I now have a better, longer life pacer, bad news I may not have needed it so soon. needless to say, I am going to start looking at the website quarterly to see what issues there may be with the pm.

I see the pacemaker nurse in a few weeks, and we'll have a chance to talk about it.

Have a great day!

2 Comments

Me Too

by Stuart - 2011-11-22 03:11:43

Sounds like our situations are very similar.
I am scheduled for a replacement of my Enrhythm next month due to a low battery after only 5 years. Shouldn't this software update have already been done when the Medtronics pacer tech "read" the PM? Seems like somebody should have had a responsibility to notify the patients who have these units so we could try the updated sofeware before the pacers are replaced. I am going to check with my doctor before I allow anyone to proceeed with the replacement.

And more

by Starmountain - 2011-11-28 12:11:07

Thanks for the comment. When I went in to see the pacemaker nurse, he said the software update was in the machine that reads the pacemaker, not the pacemaker itself.

So far as being told, what is happening, we need to take the initiative to check the pacemaker web sites and ask lots of questions. I am afraid that neither the cardiologists or pacemaker companies are going to keep us well informed. Informed, but not well informed.

Hope all goes well with your pm replacement.

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