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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
pacemaker failure
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
pacemaker failure
by deb__0__0, Apr 24, 1998 12:00AM
My mother, who has had the same pacemaker for about 12 years,
recently experienced chest pains and was admitted into the hospital.
After testing, it was determined that her pacemaker had stopped working
and had not been working for some time prior to her admittance.
The hospital subsequently replaced her pacemaker.
We would like to know what kind of injury/discomfort can result from
having a pacemaker attached but not working.
Also, her original reason for having the pacemaker was to control
rapid heartbeat. Can she expect any permanent injury/discomfort to
result from her NOT having the pacemaker running for that time period?
Thanks, Deb
Dear Deb:
Pacemakers are powered by generators that run out of energy over time. When this happens, the generator needs to be replaced. Routine monitoring will let a cardiologist know when the end of the battery’s life is approaching, allowing it to be changed before it stops functioning. If the pacemaker stops working and is left in place, it will do no harm, but of course, it will not do what it was initially placed for. If a patient is pacemaker-dependent and the pacemaker stops working, this can be a catastrophe. In your mother’s case, she suffered no harm from the pacemaker being left in place. However, in the future, she should have her pacemaker examined routinely, to make sure it is functioning appropriately.
If you wish to be evaluated here at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist who specializes in pacemakers at desk F15. Information provided in the Heart Forum is for general purposes only. Specific diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your doctor.
