You should immediately consult with your physician to determine if your model is part of the recall, if your defibrillator is defective, and whether the risk of surgery is better than the risk of keeping your defective Guidant defibrillator unit.

Most pacemakers will last between 8 and 10 years, after which the entire pacemaker or its battery and/or wire(s) need to be replaced. Replacing a pacemaker may be done on an outpatient basis or may include an overnight stay in the hospital. See similar questions...

Medtronic actually refuses to call its actions a recall. Instead, on October 15, 2007, Medtronic issued a "voluntary market suspension" to remove its line of Sprint Fidelis defibrillation leads from the market. Medtronic stated that the leads are prone to fracturing which can cause the defibrillator to deliver unnecessary shocks or not operate at all. See similar questions...

No. The Sprint Fidelis leads were connected to defibrillators made by Medtronic as well as other defibrillator manufacturers such as Guidant and St. Jude, and implanted in or sold to an estimated 268,000 patients worldwide since 2004 -- with roughly 235,000 patients still relying on these implanted leads. See similar questions...

It is estimated that there are 29,000 pacemaker units in question. Out of those, there have been 45 reported failures and at least two deasths linked to the units. If no other failures occur, that would mean that 1 out of 15,000 pacemaker defibrillators could result in death, and 1 out of 650 could fail. If more reports come in, the failure rate would turn out to be higher. See similar questions...

ICD (implantable defibrillator) is an electronic device. The device is used to shock the heart back into a healthy rhythm. The pacemaker is implanted in the body (in the chest area) and is used to prevent cardiac arrest from severe ventricular tachycardia (a quickly fluttering heart beat). The device works through an electrode that is inserted into the heart. The wire (lead) is connected to a tiny computer in the defibrillator. See similar questions...

We are not sure but a customer reported that Medtronics, a company that manufactures defibulators, said it was not affected. (Richard Dawson) For a pacemaker we don't know. See similar questions...

Do I have a Guidant Defibrillator Recall Lawsuit? You may need a lawyer to represent you. Learn more by filling out the form below! Lawyers and experts ready to help you now. See similar questions...

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We strongly urge you to consult your doctor before using the Hic-Cup if you have a pacemaker or other electrical or medical implant of any kind. See similar questions...

The programmable pump will not be damaged by therapy pulses from the pacemaker or ICD. However, it is recommended to keep the programming head for the pacemaker or ICD at least 10cm (4 inches) away from the pump to minimise any potential interference. It also is important to keep the programming head of the pump programmer away from the pacemaker or ICD because the programming head contains a large magnet. See similar questions...

Absolutely. Never withhold defibrillation use from a person in cardiac arrest. If the person in question meets all the criteria of cardiac arrest (unresponsive, not breathing, no pulse) they are essentially "dead." See similar questions...

In many cases, both the pacemaker and the neurostimulator can be mutually compatible. Appropriate testing, placement and programming of the devices can help in achieving mutual compatibility. Under certain conditions, it is possible that the pacemaker or ICD could detect the output stimuli from a neurostimulator. This would cause inappropriate pacemaker or ICD operation during the time the stimuli are detected and possibly cause the delivery of an inadvertent shock. See similar questions...

Yes, yes, yes, and yes if the pacemaker is shielded. If it is 10 years or older, you should consult your physician or pacemaker manufacturer. See similar questions...

Most devices will last several years, after which the battery or pulse generator will need to be replaced. Replacing a  generator may be done on an outpatient basis or may include an overnight stay in the hospital. See similar questions...

Pacemakers are powered by long-lasting lithium batteries. However, all pacemakers need to be replaced at some time. The exact replacement time for your pacemaker depends upon the type of pacemaker, the medical condition necessitating a pacemaker, lifestyle issues, and other factors. Various methods are used to indicate when the pacemaker needs to be replaced. Your physician will be able to determine the need for a new pacemaker during regular follow-up visits. See similar questions...

first, you may feel the weight of the pacemaker in your chest. However, over time, most people become accustomed to the pacemaker. The generator is very small, about the size of two silver dollars stacked on top of each other, and weighs about an ounce or less, depending on the make and model of the device. See similar questions...