Heart patients warned of pacemaker faults

Scores of Irish heart patients may need to have to have their pacemakers replaced due to a fault uncovered by a US manufacturer.

Reports this morning said the Guidant Corporation warned yesterday that some devices manufactured between 1997 and 2000 were prone to failure to a faulty seal.

The reports said Irish cardiologists had estimated that that fewer than 100 Irish people would have received the pacemakers in question.

Any patients worried about the matter are being advised to contact their GP, cardiologist or the hospital where the pacemaker was fitted.