biventricular pacemaker concern

[jrog]

I've had a pacemaker for 28 years now. And because of the amount of time I have had my pacer I have gone into heart failure. My doctor is planing on putting a bivent. pacer in me in about a month. My pacemakers normally have lasted me 7-8 years. I was just wondering how long is the life expectancy of the new pacemaker.

[banglamom]

Wow, bummer.  I got a pacemaker this year and wasn't really anticipating more overt heart failure off the back of the thing.  Don't know how much more I can go this way.  I got it as a "back-up/just in case" pacer and since then every interrogation has been about 80% paced.  The bivent pacer will have roughly the same life length.  Good luck, these new pieces are SO high tech smart.

[Momto3]

If I remember correctly, I think it depends on how ofter the pacer is "active."  Are you paced 100% of the time?  My dad had a pacemaker put in in 1999 and it was replaced with a Bi-V pacemaker/ICD in 2006.  It hadn't worn out, but his EF was low and the unit is considered safer for people with a compromised EF.  Hope the procedure goes well and you have renewed energy with your new pacer!