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An Argument for Pacemaker Reuse: Pacemaker Mortality in 169 Patients over Ten Years
Author(s) -
PRINGLE ROBERT A.,
LEMAN ROBERT B.,
KRATZ JOHN M.,
GILLETTE PAUL C.
Publication year - 1986
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.1540-8159.1986.tb06711.x
Subject(s) - medicine , longevity , pediatrics , demography , gerontology , sociology
Retrospective examination of 169 consecutive pacemaker patient deaths was done to test the hypothesis that early mortality would preclude full utilization of current battery longevity. We found a 58% mortality within two years of the last generator implant. Nineteen percent occurred within six months, and 38% occurred within a year. This compares to a current clinic of 246 patients where 43% have utilized these pacemakers for greater than 48 months. The age comparison shows that those who died were older than the Jiving controls. The 58% 24‐month mortality demonstrates that many patients underutilize expected battery life. The economic implications o/pacemaker reuse can then be understood.