A husband sought to donate his deceased wife’s pacemaker for reuse, leading doctors at the University of Michigan to explore the idea. They established Project My Heart Your Heart, refurbishing and redistributing pacemakers to impoverished nations with high cardiovascular disease burdens. A clinical trial comparing new and refurbished devices showed promising results with no significant differences in infection rates. Efforts aim to address the lack of access to affordable pacemakers in lower-income countries. The practice of reusing pacemakers, though controversial, has potential to save lives and provide much-needed care to those who cannot afford new devices.
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Soaring Pacemaker Demand Spurs Controversial New Approach
