Premium
Evaluation of a Rechargeable Pacemaker System
Author(s) -
STERTZER SIMON H.,
DEPASQUALE NICHOLAS P.,
CORN LAWRENCE J.,
BRUNO MICHAEL S.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1978.tb03463.x
Subject(s) - medicine , generator (circuit theory) , pulse generator , heart failure , cardiology , electrical engineering , voltage , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
A rechargeable‐demand nickel‐cadmium pulse generator for permanent transvenous cardiac pacing was evaluated in 66 patients. During a cumulative follow‐up period of 2,333 patient months (194.4 patient years), failure of the pacing circuit occurred in 3 patients at 21, 25, and 27 months, respectively. Nine patients had difficulty accepting the recharging concept and, in 3 of these patients, it became necessary to replace the rechargeable generator with a conventional energy source. The overall failure rate of approximately 3% per year (including the 3 patients in whom it was necessary to remove the generator because of failure to recharge properly), coupled with the inconvenience of recharging, limits the usefulness of the rechargeable system compared to the newer lithium‐powered generator.