The re-use of previously implanted pacemakers.
Two methods were used to sterilize pacemakers recovered for reimplantation in other patients. In a series of 50 reimplantations there was no battery or pocket complication which could be attributed to these methods. We believe that reimplantation is justified especially as the economic factors will become much more important with the new long-lasting, hermetically sealed lithium pacemakers.
D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards