A Decade of Nuclear Pacing |
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Authors: | VICTOR PARSONNET LAWRENCE GILBERT I. RICHARD ZUCKER ROLAND WERRES TREVOR ATHERLEY MARJORIE MANHARDT JANE GORT |
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Affiliation: | Department of Surgery and The Pacemaker Center, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, New Jersey |
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Abstract: | In April, 1973, a decade-long study was begun on nuclear-powered pacemakers. The first 15 of these were designed by the Numec Corporation under a contract from the United States Atomic Energy Commission. Altogether 151 units powered by the isotope plutonium 238 were implanted in 131 patients; the pacemakers of 4 different manufacturers were used. The last nuclear pacemaker was implanted in January, 1983. The actuarial survival at 10 years was 92%, meeting the original performance goal of the Commission of 90%. Ninety pulse generators are still in service today; 25 patients have died and 36 pulse generators have been replaced with non-nuclear units. The most common indication for replacement was an inappropriate pacing mode. This high reliability and superior performance suggest that continued use of a radioisotopic power source is justified, particularly if combined with the electronic circuits of today's dual-chambered, multiprogrammable, and multifunctional pacemakers. |
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Keywords: | nuclear-powered pacemakers multiprogrammable pacemakers |
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