Document Detail


Recovery of Pacemakers and Defibrillators for Analysis and Device Advance Directives: Electrophysiologists' Perspectives.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21314698     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Background: Following high-profile device failures, the Heart Rhythm Society emphasized the need for postmarketing surveillance by recommending that physicians return all explanted devices to the manufacturer for analysis. Methods: We conducted a national survey of electrophysiologists (EPs) regarding recovery for analysis of explanted pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (devices), and attitudes toward device-specific advance directives to facilitate return of devices. Online survey invitations were sent in four waves from December 2008 to June 2009 to 300 e-mail addresses from the Heart Rhythm Society member database. Results: From 250 invitations, there were 95 responses (38%). Demographics included average age 50 years (range, 31-87); 95% male; 81% Caucasian. Only 23% reported returning all explanted devices to the manufacturers. Of all the respondents, 32% discarded >10 devices/year as medical waste, 42% stored devices in a box in the electrophysiology lab, and 10% donated at least 1 device/year to charity for reuse overseas. Sixty-seven percent felt that it would not be helpful to have an advance directive specifying what the patient would want done with their device postmortem. Conclusions: Few EPs return all explanted devices or send interrogation reports to the manufacturers, though nearly all said it was easy to do so. A majority either dispose of explanted devices as medical waste or store them in laboratories or offices, and a small percentage donate for reuse in underserved nations or to veterinary hospitals. This study suggests a need for initiatives such as educational campaigns to increase the retrieval and return of devices, either for analysis or reuse. (PACE 2011; 1-7).
Authors:
Sachin Logani; Maia Gottlieb; Ralph J Verdino; Timir S Baman; Kim A Eagle; James N Kirkpatrick
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-2-11
Journal Detail:
Title:  Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1540-8159     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-2-14     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7803944     Medline TA:  Pacing Clin Electrophysiol     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
©2011, The Authors. Journal compilation ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Affiliation:
Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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