Pacemaker replacement

sometimes

by Tracey_E - 2021-09-20 09:09:19

Depends on the doctor, hospital and insurance! I have one of my 4. They offered me the first one and I didn't think to ask for any of the others. Too bad, I would have a nice collection going! 

Keeping stuff

by Persephone - 2021-09-20 09:21:44

I'm kind of anti-keeping stuff around just for sake of storing it in a drawer or box on a closet shelf, so would probably be inclined to simply express some gratitude to my existing pacer as it was about to end its service to me, and move on to accept the new one.  I would be happy to leave it with the hospital to properly dispose of.  Everybody's got their different take on how to treat possessions.  Good luck with your replacement.

Pacer

by Quemal - 2021-09-20 13:46:45

Truth be told, I was wanting to get a red marker to mark it up/  Then put it in my pocket, and show it around.

I know, kinda creepy.

Red marker

by AgentX86 - 2021-09-20 15:39:02

Halloween is right around the corner. Sounds like fun. Put it in a breast pocket and rip it out when you meet people. Maybe a mass of red sstrings leading back to the pocket.

Creepy? That's the whole point.  ;-)

Recycle your pacemaker.- insist on this!

by Selwyn - 2021-09-20 16:18:05

A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology shows that reusing pacemakers is  safe and effective. Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston sterilized 121 permanent pacemakers (PPMs) and sent them to a charity hospital in Mumbai, India. Of these, 11 single-chamber PPMs and 42 dual-chamber PPMs were acceptable.

Recycled pacemakers can improve or even save millions of lives each year, especially in impoverished nations. With proper sterilization and improved battery life, physicians should no longer consider pacemakers as single-use devices but rather as a reusable resource to improve humanity at its heart.

See http://www.myheartyourheart.org​

Re-use

by Persephone - 2021-09-20 17:18:23

I am intrigued by this idea, Selwyn - I looked at the website's main page, but not deeper yet - wondering how the battery replacement is handled? 

Recycling Pacemakers

by Marybird - 2021-09-20 20:08:22

That's a very interesting idea, and the myheartyourheart.org website has a lot of good information- especially the resources/articles listed on the site.

Thing is, they don't want pacemakers or ICDs that have reached their elective replacement or end of life status where the voltage is about nil or is too low for the pacemaker to function. These devices are being replaced because they are no longer of use to the individual, so they would not be of use in another recipient. The recycling program at the University of Michigan ( its their website) as well as the the references they list don't include any refurbishing of second hand pacemakers, the references state a candidate device for possible recycling must have a remaining battery life of at least 70%. 

What they're looking for are pacemakers or ICDs that have at least 70% battery life, apparently, these might come from donors who have their devices replaced before their "end of life"  for instance, someone who's having a pacemaker replaced by an ICD a couple years after he/she got the pacemaker. Or someone who's died, or is expected to die fairly soon after pacemaker implantation. 

So Quemal, you won't be depriving anyone of a good "used" pacemaker if you want to keep it in your collection of surgical souveniers and other oddities. They can't use it if it's about to give up the ghost and from 2009. 

Thanks for the helpful information

by Persephone - 2021-09-21 08:32:32

Thanks for the detailed information, Marybird.  Organ donor is a box we can check when applying for a driver license - maybe "implanted medical device donor" is something to ask be added...

Pacemaker recycle.

by Selwyn - 2021-09-22 09:17:52

Yes, the minimum battery life www.myheartyourheart.org need is 4 years. ( This info is direct from them).  If anyone knows of any other organisation it would be good to publicise as lives can be saved.

Something to request  and something to add into your Advanced Decision  Document, along with organ donation.

 [Advance Decision (or Advance Directive in Scotland) allows one  to provide instructions for future medical care and treatment while  still capable of making decisions concerning  your welfare.]

I did send off my Mother's corneas ( age 80+).  Corneas can be transplanted no matter what your age. Nice to think a little bit of her is still walking around seeing the world.  Had I known about myheartyourheart.org at the time I would also  have sent of her pacemaker.

Inspiring

by Persephone - 2021-09-22 23:48:07

Thank you for sharing this very inspiring information, Selwyn.  I appreciate your honesty, bravery, and open heart to do what could be done to help others.

three of four

by dwelch - 2021-10-09 10:54:59

I was able to keep three of my four old ones am on number five.  the first one just came home I didnt ask (1980s), number two maybe the same thing.  Number three I had to fill out forms to do some sort of experiments or analysis on the device, with no return date.  Number five though the legal fear is so high that the only exceptions are, if the device is needed for a legal reason, and in that case it is only given to your lawyer.  Or the other didnt completely make sense, but relgious, some folks keep all of their hair and nail clippings, I think it falls into that category and is released to your pastor/preacher but not you.

YMMV, as pointed out above it has to do with the legal fear of who you are working with, doctor, hospital, insurance, government.  It does not hurt to ask.  I got number three because the nurse I asked gave me the phone number of the right person in the right department at the hospital.  Years later I contaced that person and basically the above is what I learned.  I wish they simply had a form I could sign to release them of legal liability, I would sign it in a room of witnesses, in blood to assure them I just wanted it for my collection and not for some evil reason.