2026 data Public-data reference. official source

Implantable Pacemaker Pulse-Generator

Adverse-event figures are drawn from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) MAUDE database, refreshed March 2026, see our methodology.

Open-data reference.

FDA MAUDE adverse event data · 1991–2026

What the Data Shows About Implantable Pacemaker Pulse-Generator

The FDA MAUDE database aggregates 57,343 adverse-event reports for Implantable Pacemaker Pulse-Generator spanning the period from 1991 through 2026. Of these, 1,915 are classified as death reports, 31,252 as injury reports, and 23,610 as malfunction reports under FDA adverse-event categorization rules. Report counts do not by themselves indicate a device is unsafe, widely used devices and longer market histories naturally generate larger raw counts, so proportional and comparative reads are more informative than totals alone.

The adverse-event profile breaks down across 5 distinct event types and 15 reported patient-outcome categories, giving a multi-dimensional view that goes beyond a single headline number. A total of 20 distinct product-problem codes appear in the reports, with Adverse Event Without Identified Device or Use Problem topping the list at 2,389 reports. Reports are associated with 10 different manufacturers in the MAUDE record, reflecting both OEMs and repackagers of this device category.

Annual reporting volume is tracked across 36 years of MAUDE data, with the peak single-year volume reaching 6,050 reports - trend shape often reflects changes in device adoption, reporting rules, or FDA enforcement focus rather than underlying device behavior alone. Events are documented across 25 reported care-setting categories (hospital, home, ambulatory surgery center, etc.). All figures reflect the openFDA MAUDE snapshot last refreshed on . This page is informational and is not medical advice, discuss device-safety questions with your healthcare provider.

57,343
Total Reports
1,915
Death Reports
31,252
Injury Reports
23,610
Malfunctions

Event Types

Injury 31,252 (54.5%)
Malfunction 23,610 (41.2%)
Death 1,915 (3.3%)
Other 385 (0.7%)
181 (0.3%)

Patient Outcomes

Required Intervention 18,375 (26.7%)
16,048 (23.3%)
Hospitalization 10,202 (14.8%)
Other 9,965 (14.5%)
R 9,559 (13.9%)
Death 1,883 (2.7%)
L 1,065 (1.5%)
H 622 (0.9%)
O 568 (0.8%)
Life Threatening 530 (0.8%)
S 37 (0.1%)
Disability 22 (0.0%)
Invalid Data 8 (0.0%)
Congenital Anomaly 7 (0.0%)
D 6 (0.0%)

Top Product Problems

Adverse Event Without Identified Device or Use Problem 2,389
Over-Sensing 1,024
Device Dislodged or Dislocated 935
Signal Artifact/Noise 718
Failure to Capture 648
Premature Discharge of Battery 630
High Capture Threshold 521
High impedance 451
Appropriate Term/Code Not Available 419
Pacing Problem 366
Failure to Interrogate 333
Under-Sensing 318
Inappropriate/Inadequate Shock/Stimulation 294
Fracture 292
Device Sensing Problem 277
Pacemaker Found in Back-Up Mode 267
Break 257
Impedance Problem 256
Capturing Problem 237
Low impedance 221

Yearly Trend

91
1991: 1
92
1992: 27
93
1993: 40
94
1994: 107
95
1995: 82
96
1996: 429
97
1997: 3,119
98
1998: 1,737
99
1999: 1,126
00
2000: 1,991
01
2001: 1,248
02
2002: 976
03
2003: 881
04
2004: 687
05
2005: 625
06
2006: 2,181
07
2007: 2,407
08
2008: 2,649
09
2009: 3,750
10
2010: 4,186
11
2011: 6,050
12
2012: 3,709
13
2013: 2,682
14
2014: 5,604
15
2015: 1,022
16
2016: 542
17
2017: 1,047
18
2018: 2,070
19
2019: 1,799
20
2020: 546
21
2021: 560
22
2022: 784
23
2023: 922
24
2024: 773
25
2025: 819
26
2026: 165

Related Entities for Implantable Pacemaker Pulse-Generator

Event Locations

HOSPITAL 33,356 (58.2%)
11,021 (19.2%)
I 7,047 (12.3%)
OTHER 3,793 (6.6%)
OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FACILITY 654 (1.1%)
INVALID DATA 586 (1.0%)
HOME 435 (0.8%)
UNKNOWN 150 (0.3%)
NOT APPLICABLE 91 (0.2%)
NO INFORMATION 65 (0.1%)
CLINIC - WALK IN, OTHER 61 (0.1%)
OUTPATIENT DIAGNOSTIC FACILITY 31 (0.1%)
PATIENT'S HOME 17 (0.0%)
NURSING HOME 14 (0.0%)
AMBULATORY SURGICAL FACILITY 11 (0.0%)
33 2 (0.0%)
AMBULATORY HEALTH CARE FACILITY 1 (0.0%)
CATHETERIZATION SUITE 1 (0.0%)
EMERGENCY ROOM 1 (0.0%)
EXAMINATION ROOM 1 (0.0%)
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY 1 (0.0%)
PUBLIC VENUE 1 (0.0%)
REHABILITATION CENTER 1 (0.0%)
SCHOOL 1 (0.0%)
X 1 (0.0%)

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Data Source

FDA Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database via the openFDA API. Reports are submitted by manufacturers, healthcare facilities, and patients. Report counts do not indicate a device is unsafe, higher-use devices naturally generate more reports.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FDA MAUDE database. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Every figure on PlainHospital is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.