title: Software error resulting in malfunction of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
abstract: Loss of ventricular output resulting from an unexpected software error in a dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is reported. A 70-year-old man with a dual chamber ICD implanted for a history of cardiac arrest and infra-Hisian block presented with acute onset of dizziness. He was found to have loss of ventricular output due to an internal software problem. The problem was corrected by software reprogramming via the programmer. This malfunction exemplifies the potential ability to correct current-generation ICD software problems noninvasively, thus avoiding the need for replacement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-4800, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Coppess
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Zipes
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Groh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012984:Software