My pace maker replacement

I had my third pace maker insertion  procedure two weeks ago👍. Procedure went well.   I am 100% paced  so an external pacemaker was used with lead through my groin. 
Not much pain at incision site and just finished the two week course of antibiotics. He kept me in the hospital over night   Electrophysiologist cautioned me on keeping iincision  site dry so as to not open incision until completely healed to prevent infection which can be problematic in that area. This one is a Boston Scientific which the tech said was top of the line with  10 to 14 year  battery life. My first one was Medtronic and lasted 7 1/2 years. My second one was Medtronic and lasted 9 1/2 years. 

So at my age of 82 and in otherwise good health I could be looking at a photo finish to see  who wins--- me or the pace maker☠️

Now my concern are my leads which are original and 17 years old. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Although my last two pace makers are MRI compatible the old leads are not compatible which has been an issue with my prostate biopsies. 
 

I have two questions in closing. 

Who determines the manufacturer of the pace maker? The electrophysiologist, hospital or insurance?

How many or what percent  of folks with pace makers  are actually lucky enough to get a third pace maker?

              Rodger

6 Comments

Your Questions

by Good Dog - 2024-05-29 14:32:01

#1 Who determines the manufacturer of the pace maker? The electrophysiologist, hospital or insurance? Your Doc usually selects it unless you direct otherwise. Frankly, I have an interest and would want to ask my Doc for the brand that I currently have. However, I will always respect my Doc's opinion if he disagrees and provides a good reason for a different brand. I suppose that some docs/hospitals may dictate what brand based upon what they are best equipped for or accustomed to using, but I do not know that for sure.

#2 How many or what percent  of folks with pace makers are actually lucky enough to get a third pace maker?

I received my first at age 38 and just received my fourth this past March at age 76.

Also, I would not worry about your leads. My atrial lead is 37+ years old and my ventricular lead is 29+ years old. Both are Medtronic and working fine.

I wish you the best!

Sincerely,

Dave

Good dog

by zawodniak2 - 2024-05-29 15:46:52

Thanks for your replies!!

When I had my pre-op meeting with my dioc, I told him my first two were Medtronic's and performed flawlessly and the recent Medtronic's have a battery life similar to Boston Scientific. 
He said it will be a Boston Scientific due to longer battery life?????

So I could be wrong but   I think the hospital  decides based on marketing decisions, cost  supplier technician availability, inventory control. etc 

After two weeks of watching my 24 hour  heart rate history  on my iPhone Fitbit app, I see no difference in performance👍  

               Rodger

My hospital probably looks in the store cupboard!

by Gemita - 2024-05-29 17:21:33

Rodger, so happy your third pacemaker implant went well.

My large teaching hospital in London has stocks of Medtronic pacemakers, so that is what I got.  I think it depends on the patient's lifestyle, whether or not they receive a different pacemaker.  Many members have started asking for a specific manufacturer device which might be better for a particular activity like cycling. 

I am not so concerned about matching a device to my lifestyle.  I am more interested in making sure that my device has the features (algorithms) that will make pacing a more comfortable experience.  

I am still on my first pacemaker.  At 75, I expect I will live to see my second pacemaker but not sure about a third device.  You sound a very young 82 year old Rodger.  

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe

by AgentX86 - 2024-05-29 19:12:04

AFAIK, most hospitals have contracts with one manufacturer. Others may be used, for reason, but there are benefits to having only one supplier. An exclusive contract can get better pricing, but more importantly, may get more support.  If the hospital is big enough, they may get their own rep, or share a local rep with only a few other hospitals, rather than haing one who has a territory a couple hundred miles across. 

Pacemaker manufacturer's representatives are extremely useful resources.  They don't just take the doctors out for dinner and drinks, while they sell them the newest (patented) drug.  They know their product line (they're techies, not salesmen) and can be a major resource selecting and optimizing their products. They know them better than the doctors.

Supporting only one manufacturer can make it a lot simpler for in-house pacemaker clinics, too.  There would be only one set of tools and the techs don't have to be trained on every pacemaker and every programming tool.  Depending on how it's managed, the hospital may only have one pacemaker clinic, as opposed to one for every manufacturer.

My PM tech isn't in the hospital, rater is "attached" to my EP, who travels between two or three locations.  The practice is owned by a major teaching hospital, but pretty much all doctor's offices are owned by hospitals  because of Obamacare. They're local (10-15mi) to me every Wednesday.  Otherwise they're about 40mi (an hour) away. I can see the PM tech, a former Medtronic rep, usually the next day.  The EP might take a week, if it's important. Supporting multiple manufacturer's products, like this, would become untenable.

 

 

You sound wonderful!

by Lavender - 2024-05-29 21:36:09

So glad your report is so upbeat!  My cardiologist told me that the dr and EP choose together which model pacemaker would be best for me-mine is a Boston Scientific. I won't live for a third device unless mine wears out the battery real quickly! I am on my first device. 

Thanks for sharing

by piglet22 - 2024-05-30 05:41:27

Your PM history is similar to mine with two Medtronic devices with similar lifetimes, 11 years and approaching 9.

I'm starting to get the feeling that external pacing will be on the menu as I too am 100% paced.

They got me ready for external pacing in 2016, but didn't do it

 It was a a trip in in more ways than one.

Here, UK, they tend to get you out the door ASAP, but I wouldn't mind an overnight stay just for a change and dare I say, some TLC.

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic man.

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