Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced life-support technology providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support for patients whose hearts and lungs cannot function adequately. The concept of using a machine to replace these functions dates back to 1931 when John Gibbon, a surgical resident in Boston, treated a woman with a pulmonary embolism. Without available treatments, he could only watch her deteriorate and pass away. This experience led Gibbon to envision a method to oxygenate blood outside the body and […]

Implantable electronic cardiac devices (IECDs) play a crucial role in patients with bradyarrhythmias, with proven effectiveness in improving quality of life and maintaining life itself, and their use in clinical practice is unquestionable. However, the technology used and its possible complications represent a considerable cost to regulatory agencies and the respective paying sources. If, on the one hand, the benefit of IECDs in different clinical scenarios is not questioned, on the other hand, the associated cost, including possible complications, should […]