Type and timing of permanent pacemaker failure.
Availability of lithium batteries will decrease the incidence of early pacemaker failure. Pacemaker malfunction, exclusive of that due to battery exhaustion, can still occur. Defined as any repeat surgical procedure required after initial implantation, pacemaker system failure occurred in 22 of 115 (19 percent) pacemaker patients. Failure occurred within the first month in 12 with ten being lead-related. Insertion site problems occurred in nine patients. Though most endocardial pacemaker complications occur early, patients continue to be at risk for as long as the units are in place. Despite improvements in the batteries, there continue to be sufficient problems with pacemakers to emphasize the need for selectivity in determining which patients receive permanent units.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors