Aging Begins at 30

Pacemakers

Ian Maclean Smith, M.D.
Emeritus Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Creation Date: August 2001
Last Revision Date: August 2001
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

You may start with a temporary pacemaker worn outside the body an a belt with only the wires buried inside your chest. Later a permanent or internal pacemaker is likely to be placed in the loose tissue under your collarbone. The batteries have to be checked regularly. They usually last about six years. Your wallet or purse should have a card giving details about your pacemaker.

Sharing notes at the coffee shop I found out that my friend had undetected trouble with his pacemaker for about a month and I wondered how often this happened. He missed it and was glad to be restored to its control. The leads can break, but this is a small problem. Bigger problems are malfunctions of the apparatus or the program that runs it.

I found a recent article in the JAMA on recalls of defective pacemakers. The use of pacemakers and similar types of apparatuses have increased from approximately 500,000 yearly in 1990 to 710,000 in the year 2000. They examined the recall of over 50 different models and noted that they have become increasingly complex over the years while the size has continued to shrink. Programming glitches and manufacturers' recall generally involves replacement. The costs from 1990 to 2000 are approximately $870 million.

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See related Patient Topics Heart and Circulation, Heart Diseases--General, Pacemakers and Implantable Defibrillators, Procedures and Therapies or Seniors' Health.

See related Provider Topics Heart and Circulation, Heart Diseases--General, Pacemakers and Implantable Defibrillators, Procedures and Therapies or Seniors' Health.

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