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 'implantable'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:29:49 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158993&cid=t_119052_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcardiac-devices-causing-more-infections-whats-the-cause%2F2011.08.25 A new report published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and reported in theHeart.org and elsewhere, suggests the infection rate of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CEID’s) between 1993 and 2008 has greatly increased from 1.53% in 2004 to 2.41% in 2008 (p < 0.001) with a dramatic rise in 2005: Click image to enlarge The authors explain this sudden increase on the basis of comorbities: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158993 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0100 5158993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139732&cid=t_119052_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=4780373&cid=t_119052_113_f&fid=39278&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogsite.mdbuyline.com%2F%3Fp%3D252 The 2011 payment level for monitoring implantable loop recordings (ILR) jumped from $38 to $166.  What a boost!  That’s over a 330% increase.  Someone at CMS must be pretty excited about what the technology has to offer patients. Prior to 2011, CPT 93299 (implantable loop recorder monitoring system data management) was assigned to APC 0689 (electronic analysis of cardioverter-defibrillators).  The code is intended to reimburse the hospital for the receiver station, the remote storing, and review of the data by a technician.  The increase in payment is a result of CMS assigning the CPT code 93299 to APC 0691 (electronic analysis of programmable shunts/pumps).  Why such a significant increase?  When CMS makes a big change like this, it is to help encourage the use of a technology, a... MD Buyline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4780373 Tue, 03 May 2011 13:49:03 +0100 4780373 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4565905&cid=t_119052_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Findependent-peer-reviewed-scientific-journals-just-how-independent-are-they%2F2011.03.09 On September 27, 2010, the peer-reviewed scientific journal Europace published online-before-print a case report entitled “Spontaneous explosion of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator” by Martin Hudec and Gabriela Kaliska. In the pdf of that case report a figure containing a color photo of the affected patient’s chest, chest X-ray, and two pictures of the extracted device (one seen here) were included. The pictures and case presentation were dramatic and the case very rare. Both were perfect reasons to report such an important case to the medical literature. And so these doctors sent the case to Europace on June 29, 2010, and the article was accepted after revision on August 16, 2010, with the article appearing online September 27, 2010. The authors must have felt v... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4565905 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4565905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495203&cid=t_119052_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmri-safe-pacemakers-available-in-u-s-hospitals-soon-what-it-means-for-heart-patients%2F2011.02.18 This was the Guest Blog at Scientific American on February 16th, 2011. New wave of MRI-safe pacemakers set to ship to hospitals This week Medtronic will begin shipping to hospitals in the United States the first pacemaker approved by the FDA as safe for most MRI scans. For consumers, it is a significant step in what is expected to be a wave of new MRI-compatible implanted cardiac devices. But this is an example of one technology chasing another and the one being chased, the MRI scanner, is changing and is a step ahead of the new line of pacemakers. The pacemaker approved for U.S. distribution is Medtronic’s first-generation pacemaker with certain limitations, while its second-generation MRI-compatible pacemaker is already in use in Europe where approval for medical devices is not as dem... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495203 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4495203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045095&cid=t_119052_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsex-and-your-defibrillator%2F2010.10.08 Have a defibrillator and feel like getting frisky? For the first time that I can recall, there’s a very helpful article published in Circulation addresses the concerns of implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) patients and sexual activity. There’s all kinds of helpful tidbits, like this one: A study of 1,774 patients who had experienced an acute myocardial infarction showed that sexual activity was a likely contributor in fewer than 1 percent of cases. In fact, regular physical exertion, such as that associated with sexual activity, was associated with a decreased risk of cardiac events in patients. Now that’s helpful! Recall that defibrillators are designed to detect rapid, potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Most of the time, sexual activity does not lead to hea... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045095 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 +0100 4045095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635743&cid=t_119052_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprovide-healthcare-get-investigated%2F2010.06.07 When I started medical school, if someone had told me that providing healthcare to my patients would be grounds for a Department of Justice inquiry into the care I delivered, I would have laughed in their face. But the government’s desperate financial times require desperate measures. From the Report on Medicare Compliance: Both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) are focusing investigations on Medicare billing for implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) surgery. The reimbursement rate for ICD surgery is one of the higher dollar Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groupings (MS-DRG). The DOJ’s investigation is focusing on both medical necessity and MS-DRG coding validation issues, while the RACs are currently only conducting MS-DRG validation re... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635743 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3635743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598304&cid=t_119052_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FY09yuZ7tt-Y%2F Nearsightedness or myopia ranges from being annoying to downright frustrating for people who are severely myopic. Laser surgery has become a very popular option for many people who are nearsighted, but the surgery isn’t for everyone. Some people decide against Lasik surgery because of fear and because the surgery isn’t reversible. Other people aren’t candidates for Lasik surgery. For example, people with diabetes, certain types of infections in the eye or who have cataracts are usually not able to undergo Lasik surgery. This type of vision correction also isn’t recommended for people with thin corneas or severe myopia. To address this problem, researchers have developed an implantable lens that could do the same thing Lasik does, but without the permanency. The rese... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2598304 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:33:09 +0100 2598304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2144706&cid=t_119052_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F68dPnbcYjlQ%2F   For something that is a little smaller than an i Pod, the implantable cardioverter defibrillator carries quite a punch. The implant has small wires running to the chambers of the heart. If there is any disruption like ventricular fibrillation the implant sends off a burst of electricity to force the heart into a normal rhythm. Before the (ICD) an attack of ventricular fibrillation was often deadly. The implant works on the same premise as the heart paddles that are used in most emergency rooms or trauma centers, to shock a patient back to life. The invention of the (ICD) has given people with heart problems, a freedom that a few years ago was unheard of. A young mother in Washington State, has a new lease on life due to her implant. She said, “That she rarely notices that the (ICD... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2144706 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2144706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1596752&cid=t_119052_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F328309644%2F A Pacemaker like device to help one lose weight? This type of machine/mechanism has been around since 2005 and has been hit or miss in the past. This summer Dr. Ikramuddin plans to implant a device like such in up to 30 volunteers as part of an international research study. In this case, a pacemaker-like device is inserted just beneath the skin near the rib cage. It sends electrical impulses to block the vagus nerve, which tells the brain when the stomach is empty. The idea, in effect, is to trick the brain in order to curb the appetite. New studies on obesity have been examining just how much your brain has to do with losing weight among the obese. Would you be willing to try this technology? Yes- anything to lose weight Perhaps- would need ... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1596752 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:05:38 +0100 1596752 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1419135&cid=t_119052_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=814188&cid=t_119052_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_119052_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=486677&cid=t_119052_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F19913611%2F As if Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) was not bad enough, we now are facing X-tremely Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB). The best drugs for treatment of TB are the standard first line regimen including:- Isoniazid Rifampacin Pyrazinamide Ethambutol and Streptomycin MDR-TB is resistant to at least 2 first line drugs including Isoniazid and Rifampicin. In contrast XDR-TB (Extensive or extremely drug resistant TB) is resistant to both 1st line and 2nd line drugs. The World Health Organization announced that the so-called XDR-TB is particularly prominent in Eastern Europe and Asia. Nearly one in five cases of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in Latvia, for example, fit the criteria for XDR-TB. In the U.S. about 4% of multi-drug resistant TB are actually XDR-TB. Resistance to ... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486677 Wed, 06 Sep 2006 20:04:05 +0100 486677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486681&cid=t_119052_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F19703318%2F The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first totally implanted artificial heart for patients with advanced heart failure. The AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart, made by Abiomed, Inc. (Danvers, Mass.), is intended for people who are not eligible for a heart transplant and who are unlikely to live more than a month without intervention. In clinical studies, this product was shown to prolong the life and improve the quality of life for critically ill patients. The AbioCor Replacement Heart is a battery-powered system. The AbioCor Replacement Heart is implanted in your body, where it takes the place of your natural heart to keep the blood flowing normally through your body. Abicor II next generation implantable replacement heart, the AbioCor II, incorporates ... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486681 Wed, 06 Sep 2006 03:53:21 +0100 486681