Wow, I have mixed feelings about this one. FDA Urges Wider Use Of Heart Device: Defibrillator Could Aid Several Million. Under the new assessment, 3 million to 4 million Americans with a history of heart attack and with depressed heart functions would be eligible for the device. Previously, the FDA had approved the defibrillator only for patients who had survived cardiac arrest and had undergone an invasive test to determine they were suitable candidates.

At an estimated cost of $30,000, what insurer will pay for these defibrillators. If we start implanting many defibrillators, I hope we undergo research to find out how to predict better which ones trigger and which ones don't. We really will have to be more selective than all patients having had a myocardial infarction and a decreased ejection fraction. Developing reasonable guidelines for this device will challenge the medical community.