A Hearty Life

Removing Implanted Heart Device Poses Risks

by Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD on April 26th, 2006

Implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) may be less likely to fail now than before, but still malfunction 20 times more often than pacemakers and need to be replaced an average of 26.5 months after initial implant. Replacing problematic ICD’s is no easy matter, a survey of Canadian ICD implanting centers found:
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• 5.8% of patients who had ICDs removed after manufacturers issued recalls had major complications, including two deaths
• An additional 2.3% had minor complications

ICD’s are particular difficult to remove because they use a larger lead, which carries a “recognized higher risk of extraction” especially when using a laser lead extraction machine that requires a highly trained operator.

The solution? Replacement should be determined patient-by-patient because for some, removal may not be worth it.

MedPage Today, April 25, 2006

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POSTED IN: Hearty Healthcare, Hearty Research