title: [Reuse of previously implanted defibrillators].
abstract: Implantable defibrillators are part of the therapeutical armamentarium for the treatment of tachycardia. About 2000 of these systems are implanted in Germany per year. Device costs range between 45,000 and 55,000 DM. The medium device life-time is 5 years. Questions about reuse of the systems after the patient's death arise. From ethical point of view these plans have to be opposed.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Thorax- und Kardiovaskulare Chirurgie, Zentrum für Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum, Essen.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wolfhard
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000191:economics*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D017743:Equipment Reuse / Q000191:economics*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*
vernacular_title: Zur Wiederverwendung von gebrauchten implantierbaren Defibrillatoren.