Implantable electronic devices such as pacemakers and certain defibrillators can help treat heart conditions and save lives, but these benefits may have to be weighed against potentially life-threatening and costly complications, a new study suggests. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., found that people who develop an infection related to a cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) are at greater risk for death. Infection related to one of these devices also results in higher health-care costs, including the price for hospital admissions, intensive care and pharmacy services.
