P1687Deactivation of implantable defibrillators at end of life- can we do better?

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators: even better than we thought?

In certain parts of the world, cardiologists struggle on a daily basis to convince government-run health services to allow them to implant defibrillators into patients who have guideline indications for a device. The general opinion of the wider health service is that implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) are expensive and our health systems cannot afford them. In recent years there is a ge...

Can we do something in early life to reduce the risk of obesity?

Obesity usually results from a combination of several modifiable and non-modifiable contributing factors, such as genetics, race, and socioeconomic status. Other factors, including birth by cesarean section, perinatal antibiotics usage, and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for six months, could be potentially prevented or modulated. However, one of the factors can be easily implemented thro...

We must--and we can--do better.

Guidelines on the Management of Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillators at the End of Life. Response.

This article is a joint document of the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, the Spanish Society of Palliative Care and the Section of Geriatric Cardiology of the Spanish Society of Cardiology. Its aim is to address the huge gap that exists in Spain with regard to the management of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in the final stages of life. It is increasingly common to...

Ethical considerations for discontinuing pacemakers and automatic implantable cardiac defibrillators at the end-of-life.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW As the use of intracardiac devices has increased, the awareness of the burdens of the devices, especially the uncomfortable defibrillator shocks, has also increased. Some patients have requested device deactivation and some physicians have expressed reluctance to do so. This review will update physicians about the ethical acceptability of removal of intracardiac devices. REC...