Defibrillator

My Dad is 89 and very active although he has a weak heart. He does everything he can to keep going. He has a pacemaker and the battery is low. Instead of replacing the pacemaker, it was suggested to him that since he has some scar tissue on heart from a previous silent heart attack and his ER numbers have dropped that he might get a defibrillator implanted instead of the pacemaker. He hates having procedures done and my understanding is that he would have to have a some invasive tests done in order to get this defibrillator. We are thinking that maybe it would be better for him to stick with the pacemaker. Would it really be beneficial for him to go through all of the prep and the implantation of the defibrillator or should he take the least invasive path and stick with the pacemaker? Could the defibrillator increase his lifespan or his quality of life in any way that would make it worth having? Thank You.

[caregiver222]

The new unit combines the function of pacemaker and defribrillator.

No, it would not be better if he "stuck with the pacemaker".

The defibrilator unit senses the rhythym, and if ventricular fibrilation takes place a small puls is provided to convert this to a normal rhythym.

The defibrilation addition will decrease the chances of him dying.

Other than the ability to convert ventricular fibrilation , the two units will work the same.

[caregiver222]

The new unit combines the function of pacemaker and defribrillator.

No, it would not be better if he "stuck with the pacemaker".

The defibrilator unit senses the rhythym, and if ventricular fibrilation takes place a small puls is provided to convert this to a normal rhythym.

The defibrilation addition will decrease the chances of him dying.

Other than the ability to convert ventricular fibrilation , the two units will work the same.