title: Accelerated Implantable Defibrillator Battery Depletion Secondary to Lithium Cluster Formation: A Case Series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Device failure from unanticipated and precipitous battery depletion is uncommon but can be life-threatening. Multiple mechanisms of battery failure have been previously described in the medical literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  However, in this current case series, we describe the largest cohort of patients (n = 4) with St. Jude (St. Paul, MN, USA) early implantable defibrillator battery depletion attributable to lithium cluster formation causing short circuit and high current drain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians must be aware of this occult cause of device failure and more studies are needed to determine its true prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois.
authors.forename: Ashim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois.
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Parr
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois.
authors.forename: Timir S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Baman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium
keywords: ICD; battery drainage; lithium cluster