Length of Battery Life

Just a query. How long does a battery last in a pacemaker?

5 Comments

PM Battery Life

by SMITTY - 2008-03-09 04:03:02

Hello Jules,

The following is from an article in a recent Medtronic Newsleter on battery replacement.

"Your implanted heart device is powered by a lithium battery. This battery is sealed inside the titanium case of your heart device. Eventually, when the battery power is low, your heart device will need to be replaced. How long the battery will last depends on many factors, including how often your heart device provides therapy to
your heart.

Generally, the average Medtronic device battery lasts four to seven years after implant. A heart device replacement procedure is typically easier and quicker than the initial implant procedure. Your doctor makes a new incision, removes the current heart device, and checks the leads. Your implanted leads may be used
with your new heart device if they are still in good working condition. If not, your doctor will implant new leads.

The leads are connected to your new heart device, and the heart device is tested and usually implanted in the same place as your first heart device. Then the doctor closes the incision and sets the features of your new heart device. Talk with your doctor for specific information about your device’s estimated longevity life."

Now I have a question for those of you that have had your PM replaced. Is it really as easy as this article would have us believe?

Smitty

It Depends

by TwoCents - 2008-03-09 04:03:43

Battery longevity depends on many factors. Do you have dual lead or single lead pacemaker? What percentage are you paced in the atrium or ventricle or both? What are your settings? What are your threshold levels (how much juice it takes to cause your heart to properly contract)? I would suggest that you get your interrogation printout next time you are checked and ask a multitude of questions. My first pacemaker lasted 6 years and 9 months. I am 100% paced in the atrium and 40% paced in the ventricle. Now my ventrical threshold values have increased suddenly (probably due to the lead not being as firmly placed in the ventricle which means the "contact" isn't as efficient). After being told that this could "significantly" affect battery life I called the company. I read my settings and gave information on my printout and they plug the numbers into a formula that gives a rough estimate. In my case, given my current settings, the estimate is 6 years and 4 months. Once again information gathering is important. The more we are informed the better our decision making. Best--Two Cents

good morning

by sistermary7 - 2008-03-09 12:03:27

I aked my doc and the medtronic rep the same thing. Both told me, typically,about 4 - 6 years depending on your hearts use of the device. I also did not realize they don't just "Change the battery" they change out the entire device,except the wires (unless the doc finds something wrong with the wires and at that point they may choose to leave them or take them out;again that also depends on several different things). It will be really interesting in the next 4 - 10 years to see what kind of devices they come up with. Maybe they will come up with something that does not have to be changed out so often. I hope with more research they will find a way to help with the symptoms people are having. Take care and have a beautiful day!
sistermary7

Comment for Two Cents

by ElectricFrank - 2008-03-10 01:03:13

I went through a similar thing back around the first of the year. My ventricle capture voltage suddenly went up about 2.5 times. I was actually losing capture and missing as many as 4 beats in a row. The Medtronic rep turned the voltage up to 5 volts as an emergency measure, which restored my heart beat. That dropped my reported battery life from 4-5 years down to 1-2 years. After a couple of weeks I asked to have the rep check again. He found the required voltage was substantially lower so set it down to 3 volts. On my last telephone check the report showed the threshold is now back down to the 1.2 volts I have had since implant. The phone check can't change the actual voltage, only measure it, but I have an office check in early April. Looking back I think I had a viral infection that has been going around.
You may find that your levels will reduce again also. One way to check the lead placement is to look at the impedance reading on the printout. That is a direct measurement of the contact with the heart tissue. In my case the impedance didn't change, only the threshold.

best,
frank

Answer to Smitty's Question

by janetinak - 2008-03-10 01:03:36

Hi,

I have had my 2nd PM & also a lead replacement & it went well as in your article. Had to stay overnight as lead replaced but this PM better than 1st probaby due to
lead problem. Usual precautions for arm use but incision healed faster & easier than 1st time.

Hope that helps.

Janet

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So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.