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. 2020 Dec;115(6):1178-1179.
doi: 10.36660/abc.20200447.

Recommendations for the Post-Mortem Management of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Júlio César de Oliveira  1   2 , Alexsandro Alves Fagundes  3 , Ricardo Alkmim-Teixeira  4   5 , José Mário Baggio Junior  6 , Luciana Armaganijan  7 , Andre d'Avila  8 , Eduardo B Saad  9 , Veridiana Silva de Andrade  10 , Luis Gustavo Belo de Moraes  11 , Ricardo Kuniyoshi  12 , André Gustavo da Silva Rezende  13   14 , Mauricio Pimentel  15 , Thiago da Rocha Rodrigues  16 , Helio Lima de Brito Junior  17 , Elenir Nadalin  18   19   20 , Cristiano Faria Pisani  21 , Elerson Arfelli  22 , Fatima Dumas Cintra  10 , Carlos Antonio Abunader Kalil  23   24 , Sissy Lara de Melo  21 , Priscila Moreno Sperling Cannavan  25
Affiliations

Recommendations for the Post-Mortem Management of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Júlio César de Oliveira et al. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020 Dec.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

The management of cardiac implantable electronic devices after death has become a source of controversy. There are no uniform recommendations for such management in Brazil; practices rely exclusively on institutional protocols and regional custom. When the cadaver is sent for cremation, it is recommended to remove the device due to the risk of explosion and damage to crematorium equipment, in addition to other precautions. Especially in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, proper guidance and organization of hospital mortuary facilities and funeral services is essential to minimize the flow of people in contact with bodily fluids from individuals who have died with COVID-19. In this context, the Brazilian Society of Cardiac Arrhythmias has prepared this document with practical guidelines, based on international publications and a recommendation issued by the Brazilian Federal Medical Council.

O manejo de dispositivos cardíacos eletrônicos implantáveis de pacientes que evoluem a óbito tem sido motivo de controvérsia. Em nosso meio, não há recomendações uniformes, estando baseadas exclusivamente em protocolos institucionais e em costumes regionais. Quando o cadáver é submetido para cremação, além de outros cuidados, recomenda-se a retirada do dispositivo devido ao risco de explosão e dano do equipamento crematório. Principalmente no contexto da pandemia causada pelo SARS-Cov-2, a orientação e organização de unidades hospitalares e serviços funerários é imprescindível para minimizar o fluxo de pessoas em contato com fluidos corporais de indivíduos falecidos por COVID-19. Nesse sentido, a Sociedade Brasileira de Arritmias Cardíacas elaborou este documento com orientações práticas, tendo como base publicações internacionais e recomendação emitida pelo Conselho Federal de Medicina do Brasil.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potencial conflito de interesses

Declaro não haver conflito de interesses pertinentes.

References

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