title: Electro-acupuncture therapy in a patient with a total artificial heart.
abstract: Interaction between the electrical system of implanted cardiovascular devices and electrical stimulation of acupuncture points (electro-acupuncture) can be life-threatening. As a result, there is reluctance to use this modality in patients who have been implanted with any cardiac device. A patient with a total artificial heart was successfully treated with electro-acupuncture for inflammatory arthritis without any adverse events. This case illustrates the safety of electro-acupuncture in patients with a total artificial heart.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix Campus, 5777 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA. gopalan.radha@mayo.edu
authors: Radha
authors: R
authors: Gopalan
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Scott
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Arabia
authors: Krishnaswamy
authors: K
authors: Chandrasekaran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000628:therapy*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006354:Heart, Artificial; D006801:Humans