MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'defibrillators'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:29:49 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139732&cid=t_119050_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-difficulties-of-managing-implanted-medical-devices%2F2011.08.18 With the explosion of medical devices to treat various medical ailments in medicine, we have seen significant improvements in quality and quantity of life. An underappreciated consequence of all of these electronic device therapies, however, has been the manpower and expertise required to manage these implanted electronic medical devices long-term. Problems with electromagnetic interference (EMI) with medical devices are real. Innovations in medicine have come from various portions of the electromagnetic spectrum including analog and digital wireless technology, diagnostic and therapeutic radiation therapy and magnetic resonance imaging. The effects of these technologies on implanted electronic medical devices can vary and specialty physicians, ancillary health care providers, and medical ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139732 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:17:00 +0100 5139732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411720&cid=t_119050_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FczjeJiD1xHk%2F Last week, St. Jude Medical agreed to pay $16 million to resolve allegations the device maker used post-marketing studies and a data registry to pay kickbacks to induce docs to implant pacemakers and defibrillators (read the settlement). The allegations were contained in a qui tam, or whistleblower lawsuit filed by Chuck Donigian, who worked for St. Jude as a technical service specialist between 2004 and 2007. His job was to provide support to the sales force by helping to market the devices, visiting cath labs and operating rooms, and assisting with paperwork for enrolling patients. But he didn’t like what he saw – St. Jude staff would sometimes fill out paperwork for follow-up visits instead of docs, sign forms on behalf of physicians, patients were enrolled improperly and scientific... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411720 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 22:00:32 +0100 4411720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265740&cid=t_119050_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdefibrillators-on-the-top-10-health-technology-hazards-list%2F2010.12.16 In a desperate attempt to reach an even number it seems, hospital defibrillators were added to ECRI.org’s “Top 10 Health Technology Hazards” list of devices that threaten to kill or maim patients: The Top 10 Health Technology Hazards list is updated each year based upon the prevalence and severity of incidents reported to ECRI Institute by healthcare facilities nationwide; information found in the Institute’s medical device problem reporting databases; and the judgment, analysis, and expertise of the organization’s multidisciplinary staff. Many of the items on this year’s list are well-recognized hazards with numerous reported incidents over the years. If one honestly looks at the number of lives saved versus the number of deaths from defibrillators, I wonder how m... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265740 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4265740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3761431&cid=t_119050_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fparamedic-rap%2F2010.07.16 The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation has held a “You Can Save a Life” video awareness contest, in which participants were invited to submit videos that raise awareness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The 2010 grand prize winner is ”Paramedic Rap” by 911 Emergency ROCKsponse, a college team that uses humor to get your attention about sudden cardiac arrest: For more videos of contestants and previous competition winners, head over to the foundation’s YouTube channel. *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3761431 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:00:01 +0100 3761431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975916&cid=t_119050_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fvideo-univ-of-maryland-medical-center.html (Source: The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News) The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975916 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:04:00 +0100 1975916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908881&cid=t_119050_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FfwNWQ9b1Sf0%2F If you have a heart-zapping defibrillator implanted in your chest, you’re not supposed to compete in sports any more intense than bowling or golf. Lots of patients ignore those guidelines, trying everything from school basketball teams and community tennis leagues to running marathons and rock climbing — although no one knows if the life-saving implants work as well under that kind of stress. Many of these athletes will now take part in a nationwide registry to see once and for all if this is a validated risk. Do the athletes need more “shocks” to the heart than other persons that would watch from the sidelines? Can the implanted defibrillators withstand a direct hit to the chest? This registry will hopefully be able to give us more answers. With more and more ICD’s being used to... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908881 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:28:16 +0100 1908881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1419135&cid=t_119050_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F282993209%2F More and more children with congenital heart disease are receiving implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to maintain proper heart rhythm. ICDs were first introduced for adults in the 1980s, but little is known about how well they work in children, who account for less than 1 percent of recipients. A report in the April 29 Journal of the American College of Cardiology summarizes the largest pediatric experience to date. It finds the devices to be life-saving, but also suggests that they tend to deliver more inappropriate shocks to children than to adults, making it important to watch children with ICDs closely. Bottom line is we need to carefully monitor children with devices and have more frequent equipment checks. Though an inappropriate shock would be uncomfortable, like a kick ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1419135 Sat, 03 May 2008 21:25:22 +0100 1419135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1093201&cid=t_119050_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F199965200%2F The fallout from the problems with Medtronic’s Fidelis defibrillation leads continues, and in unexpected ways. For instance, consider one 48-year-old man who, earlier this week, underwent 90-minute operation at a New Jersey hospital to have the device removed and replaced. This occurred, The New York Times writes, two months after Medtronic warned docs and nearly 250,000 patients that the lead, which some call a wire, connecting their electronic defibrillators to their hearts might break. But as the paper points out, thousands of other patients with failing hearts face some key questions - should they have the potentially faulty lead removed or leave it in place and hope it does not fail? And if they do have it extracted, how will they pay for it? The device maker will only contribu... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1093201 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:51:15 +0100 1093201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=832563&cid=t_119050_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F30%2Fshould-defibrillators-be-required-in-every-school%2F Filed under: Prevention, Research, Women Heart Health, Men Heart Health, Children Heart HealthI didn't realize this, but there's a nationwide campaign to put portable defibrillators, or AEDs, in every school. Proponents want the defibrillators in place to protect kids who may suffer a cardiovascular event, as well as adults in the school building. But a recent study out of Seattle questions the logic of spending $1000-$3000 on the equipment in every school, when there may not be a need.Researchers found that few cardiovascular events happen among school aged children as it is, and that an AED would most likely be used on adults who happened to be in the building. They also found that those adults were more likely to be in junior and senior high schools (for sports programs, etc.) so AEDs m... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=832563 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 832563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828372&cid=t_119050_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F146524563%2F If you have a heart-zapping defibrillator implanted in your chest, you’re not supposed to compete in sports any more intense than bowling or golf. Lots of patients ignore those guidelines, trying everything from school basketball teams and community tennis leagues to running marathons and rock climbing — although no one knows if the life-saving implants work as well under that kind of stress. Many of these athletes will now take part in a nationwide registry to see once and for all if this is a validated risk. Do the athletes need more “shocks” to the heart than other persons that would watch from the sidelines? Can the implanted defibrillators withstand a direct hit to the chest? This registry will hopefully be able to give us more answers. With more and more ICD&#8217... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828372 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:32:20 +0100 828372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=814188&cid=t_119050_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F21%2Fathletes-and-internal-defibrillators-can-they-live-together-in%2F Filed under: ResearchThe current standard for anyone with an implanted defibrillator is that they should avoid participating and competing in intense sports of any kind, but the younger the patient the less compliant they often are. And with more and more younger patients getting ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillators) it's becoming more and more important to get a clear understanding of exactly how the devices are affected by physical activity. As of now doctors warn against playing in sports just because they have no idea how strenuous exercise, adrenaline, and physical jolts/impacts can affect defibrillators. They assume it's all risky, but they really don't know for sure, which is prompting new research. Seems like this is a quality of life issue, really. Taking care of yourself... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=814188 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 814188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=612075&cid=t_119050_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F17%2Flittle-company-helps-big-industry%2F Filed under: Daily newsThere are many relationships in life where a big someone needs the help of a small someone to succeed, or to survive. It's like a celebrity thanking "all the little people." Not that they really do that anymore, but you get the idea. Well Cambridge Heart, a small company manufacturing heart stress test equipment is in a position to do just that for the slowing $6 billion dollar I.C.D. (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) industry.The industry has been struggling slightly due to difficulties balancing the high costs ($50,000 per patient) and limited lifespan of the equipment (approx 5 years) with figuring out exactly who needs these devices. As many as 80% of people who have an ICD won't "use" it in its lifetime.So where does Cambridge Heart come in? They provide ... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=612075 Thu, 17 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 612075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=612089&cid=t_119050_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F15%2Finternal-defibrillators-may-need-to-be-reprogrammed%2F Filed under: Prevention, Aging Heart HealthPatients with implanted defibrillators may be better served to have them reprogrammed. In many situations where the internal devices are currently set to deliver shocks, research shows that giving a stream of electric pulses instead (much like a pacemaker) would be more effective. In addition, setting the defibrillators to deliver shocks less frequently by ignoring some types of heartbeat irregularities also appears to be beneficial. Basically, defribillators are a good idea and do save lives, but may be doing it in an "unnecessarily harsh way."Unnecessarily harsh? Who needs that!Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments (Source: The Cardio Blog) The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=612089 Tue, 15 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 612089