FDA: Batteries in certain Medtronic pacemakers may deplete early

The Food and Drug Administration last week alerted health care providers and patients that batteries in certain Medtronic implantable pacemakers and cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers may drain more quickly than expected without warning. The devices provide pacing for slow heart rhythms and heart failure. FDA said it has received three reports of the batteries draining early because of a crack in the device’s capacitor, resulting in one patient’s death. FDA recommends that providers advise their patients to continue to use their remote monitors, which can be set to alert the patient and provider when the battery level drops below a certain limit, and to immediately replace the device if they receive such a notice.