worried about mothers pacemaker.... what problems are expected from this type of medical implant? a worried daughter.

-- terri martin (tonymartin@peachnet .campus.net), December 20, 1999

Answers

Terri, everything I've read or seen regarding pacemakers says that there is no problem whatsoever. Maybe someone else can provide you some links.

-- (RUOK@yesiam.com), December 20, 1999.

I distinctly remember an article from a Candian Government source that was "contradictory" because it seemed to very strongly indicate two things: that those made before 1997 should be checked and those made before 1997 had problems.

Did find this link doing a yahoo search:

http://www.tennessean.com/health/stories/99/mqaa0126.htm

and then again CNN says:

http://cnn.ch/HEALTH/9909/14/y2k.medical.devices/

so go figure.

-- Interested Spectator (is@the_ring.side), December 20, 1999.

I almost typed a very sarcastic answer to your question on pacemakers, but relented at the last second, because of your genuine concern for Mom. I do however have a comment.

You must be kidding...how in the Hell is a pacemaker going to be affected by Y2K? Do you think it is like a VCR, and the doctor programs it just before he slips it in to the old ticker? What if he is like many physicians who can't program a VCR, and it just flashes "12:00"..."12:00"...?

Really, please don't worry about mom. And you idiots who are going to tell Terri to go on a wild goose chase, Bugger-Off!

Frank

-- Frank McGraw (communic@excite.com), December 21, 1999.

As I recall, the potential problem with pacemakers is not with the device itself, but with the equipment the physician uses when he/she periodically downloads data from it (apparently some of the devices time stamp and store data). The diagnostic device that uses these data can then contribute to a misdiagnosis and erroneous treatment.

-- ivan (ivan1776@ivnet.net), December 21, 1999.

check out the FDA.gov web site for year 2000. there are several articles on pacemakers. plus you can look up your mother's particular pacemaker on their compliance database. supposedly, for every device (and pacemakers are reported NOT to be a problem) manufacturers contacted the buyer with any non-compliance issues.

-- tt (cuddluppy@nowhere.com), December 21, 1999.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0023lZ

Thread from yesterday Re: medical devices

-- Charli Claypool (claypool@belatlantic.net), December 21, 1999.

Gee Frank, guess what newer pacemakers ARE programable. They record data for the cardiologist to analyze ( patients heart rythym, WHEN the pacemaker fires). Sometimes the paient sends the data over the phone to the doctor for interpretation. These are very sophisticated instuments now. An ED Doc

-- kozak (kozak@formerusaf.guv), December 21, 1999.

Frank:

My mom is same situation. I'm glad you weren't sarcastic, because its obvious you haven't read the NIST/Century Corp report from 22 November on failures of embedded chips and RTCC.

-- RJ (LtPita@aol.com), December 21, 1999.

i have talked to a few of the major manufacturer reps on the pacers that i have implanted in patients over the past 15 years, there are no problems with the Pacesetter brands, also i believe the Medtronic people said no problem.

alex cocco md

-- al (alco@pathway.net), December 21, 1999.

With all due respect Frank, I read the article myself and am paraphrasing the salient point that stuck in my mind ever since. I only wish I had kept the article so I see if I could find it on the web somewhere.

-- Interested Spectator (is@the_ring.side), December 21, 1999.