Abstract

Jpn J Artif Organs 29 (2), 496-499 (2000) Artificial organs including heart valves and pacemakers are well-followed by medical doctors after implantations because patients with those devices come to the outpatient clinic regularly. However, in most patients with other types of implanta-ble medical devices, the device's later performance and the cause of patient death are difficult to investigate. At our institute, since July 1968, 86 patients underwent left ventricular repair due to left ventricle aneurysm. 76 were discharged from the hospital after surgery. We tried to trace these patients using mail, telephone, and other methods, and after obtaining special permission from the Ministry of Justice to pursue our follow up, 83 of 86 patients were located, with the remaining 3 being two males and one alien female. We realized the difficulty of investigation without a nation-wide implant data system, our experience demonstrating the necessity of establishing a nation-wide implant data system. Keywords: medical device, implant data system