The impact of the millennium problem on implantable pacemakers and defibrillators

The unpredictable behavior of computer systems on January 1, 2000, known as the millennium problem or millennium 'bug,' also affects medical establishments and, due to the large use of computers in all kind of applications, cardiological clinics in particular. This review discusses the effect of the millennium computer problem on the implantation procedures and follow-up registries of implantable pacemakers and defibrillators. The review concludes that the transition in the next millennium will not influence the proper functioning of implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. The function of pacemaker/defibrillator programmers seems to be safe and no major difficulties are anticipated. Pacemaker databases and the logistics linked to the implantation and follow-up of patients and their pacemaker may and probably will be affected by the millennium transition. Using the FDA database on biomedical equipment, the actual status of all biomedical devices can be assessed.