Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE
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Pacing Clin Electrophysiol · Apr 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPhysician management of pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator advisories.
This study was designed to determine how physicians manage pacemaker (PM) and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recalls and safety alerts (collectively "advisories") and to determine which factors influence physicians' clinical decisions. Although PM and ICD advisories affected over 500,000 patients in the past decade, physician clinical management of advisory devices has not been well studied. Advisories continue to occur frequently and are increasing in number and rate. ⋯ Physician consensus exists regarding the management of some PM and ICD advisories and can be used to guide clinical practice. Substantial differences of opinion, however, are present regarding the management of many other advisories. Evidence based guidelines incorporating the indication for device implantation and the likelihood of device malfunction would greatly facilitate clinical management of PM and ICD advisory devices.