Giving cardiac devices — and people — a second chance at life

Andrea Baer

Programmes and Community Development Specialist, Arrhythmia Alliance

Trudie Lobban MBE

Founder and Trustee, Arrhythmia Alliance

We can make a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of people in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) by recycling pacemakers, which are currently put into landfills.

Recycling explanted cardiac devices to countries where they would not otherwise have the opportunity to receive treatment for heart rhythm disorders can provide valuable medical support.

Inequity of life-saving cardiac technology

In the UK, cardiac implantable devices give approximately 68,000 individuals a second chance at life each year. Yet, when a device user dies, the device is buried with them, or if the deceased chooses to be cremated, it is discarded and goes to landfill. 

Many times, a device has many years of battery life left and yet, it is a ‘throwaway.’ In stark contrast, in LMIC, around 2.5 million people die every year because they do not have enough money or access to a lifesaving cardiac device operation.

This is an opportunity that can protect our planet from harmful waste and provide life-saving cardiac care to others.

How cardiac devices can save a life, twice

Arrhythmia Alliance Pace4Life (A-A P4L) is a charity that tackles this disparity head-on by donating cardiac devices to people in need in LMIC who otherwise would not be able to afford the lifesaving implant. The charity sources cardiac devices, identifies viable clinics in LMIC, sets up programmes at these clinics, trains local cardiac teams, organises pacing missions and provides ongoing online support to those programmes. This is an opportunity that can protect our planet from harmful waste and provide life-saving cardiac care to others.

Repurposing cardiac devices for impact

The key is connecting LMIC and higher-income countries (HIC) communities through the reuse and recycling of pacemakers and other cardiac devices once they are no longer needed. By gathering these life-saving devices from hospitals, funeral homes, crematoriums and mortuaries, this programme can make a real difference in the lives of those in need. The aim is to ensure that every cardiac device is given a second chance to bring hope and healing to those who need it most.

A-A P4L has created a system that allows the repurposing of explanted and end-of-shelf-life cardiac devices and equipment. By redirecting these items to a distribution centre, the used devices are collected by a re-processing company, cleaned, decontaminated, tested and re-packaged sterile. The devices can positively impact the lives of those in need while contributing to a sustainable future by avoiding landfill.