| Sumario: | A major limitation in the use of the automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (A/CD) is limited battery longevity and the absence of an accurate and precise end-of-life indicator. An elective replacement indicator, or ERI, was proposed by the manufacturer of the A/CD in 1985. This ERI was evaluated in nine patients with AICDs. The ERI was exceeded at a mean of 10.9 ± 3.0 months after implantation. Although 0.6 ± 0.4 months of battery life were predicted to remain before battery failure, the devices were followed for 6.0 ± 3.8 months (p = 0.002) during which time no device failed. Although .28.9 ± 21.9 seconds of charging time were predicted to remain, 103.5 ± 67.9 seconds were shown to be available by magnet charge time testing (p = 0.01). Thus, the ERI of the AICD, as originally proposed by its manufacturer, consistently underestimated both the predicted time to end-of-life as well as the cumulative charging time remaining before end-of-life for each AICD examined. We propose that this ERI not be used to predict end-of-life of the AICD. A 'new' ERI has been recommended.
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