Reprocessing of Medical Products in Electrophysiology

Electrophysiological procedures use high-cost multipolar electrode catheters which can be reprocessed. The reuse thereof has been performed by electrophysiology services in Europe, United States, Latin America and also in our midst. In fact, prior studies have proved that there is an actual cost decrease1,2 and have also attested to the safety and efficacy of such practice,3-12 observing rates of complication and therapeutic results similar to the ones obtained with first-use electrophysiology devices. The growing concern with sustainability and no waste, associated with the efficacy and safety already demonstrated, increasingly stimulate the practice of reprocessing single-use medical devices throughout the world.

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[3]  G. Nollo,et al.  Health Technology Assessment on Reprocessing Single-use Catheters for Cardiac Electrophysiology: Results of a Three-years Study , 2007, 2007 29th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

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[5]  R. Harper,et al.  A Decontamination and Sterilization Protocol Employed During Reuse of Cardiac Electrophysiology Catheters Inactivates Human Immunodeficiency Virus , 2003, Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

[6]  B. Lindsay,et al.  Reprocessing of Electrophysiology Catheters: Clinical Studies, Regulations, and Recommendations. A Report of the NASPE Task Force on Reprocessing of Electrophysiological Catheters , 2001, Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE.

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[9]  C. Blomström-Lundqvist,et al.  The Safety of Reusing Ablation Catheters with Temperature Control and the Need for a Validation Protocol and Guidelines for Reprocessing , 1998, Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE.

[10]  D. Ross Re-use of electrode catheters labelled as single use for clinical cardiac electrophysiological studies. , 1996, Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine.

[11]  J. Hare,et al.  Repeated use of ablation catheters: a prospective study. , 1993, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

[12]  E V Platia,et al.  Reuse of Pacing Catheters: A Survey of Safety and Efficacy , 1988, Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE.

[13]  D. Benditt,et al.  Success of re-use of cardiac electrode catheters. , 1987, The American journal of cardiology.