Deactivation of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices in patients nearing end of life : Reality or only recommendation?

Background: Current guidelines recommend considering deactivation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) in patients nearing death. We evaluated the implementation of this recommendation in unselected deceased individuals with CIEDs.

Methods: Over a 7-month period in 2016, all deceased persons taken to the Rostock crematorium were prospectively screened for CIEDs and these were interrogated in situ.

Individual programming of current multiprogrammable pacemakers : Still unsatisfactory?

Background: Pacemaker (PM) technology has developed tremendously in recent decades. We evaluated the extent of individual programming in current PMs.

Methods: Over a 7-month period in 2016, all deceased persons taken to the Rostock crematorium were prospectively screened for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and these were interrogated in situ.