MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Researchers reported success in re-using implantable cardioverter defibrillators that had been explanted from patients and cleaned before implantation in a new patient who may not otherwise have access to the life-saving technology.
Physicians and patient family members can bring used ICDs to a center in India where they are sterilized and provided to at-risk patients, a process that’s not allowed in the U.S., Heartwire reported.
"We really wish we could make the process more organized, but the problem is that we are working largely in the shadows," lead investigator Dr. Behzad Pavri told Heartwire. "The reuse of these explanted ICDs is not sanctioned by the FDA, and there is no warranty coverage from the manufacturers. The physicians are not protected against potential lawsuits from patients or from the device companies."
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Why do kidney grafts last longer in Europe?
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