When a safety advisory or recall is issued on an ICD or pacemaker, device manufacturers are required to notify all clinicians implanting their devices. In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) coordinates device safety communications, and manufacturers are expected to notify affected patients directly or through their clinical teams.
Your device clinic will typically contact you if your device or leads are subject to an advisory. Not all advisories require the device to be replaced — many result in a change to device programming, more frequent monitoring, or simply an awareness check. Your clinical team will advise you on whether any action is required.
You can also check the MHRA’s device alerts database at www.gov.uk/government/collections/medical-device-alerts to see whether any alerts have been issued relevant to your device. If you are unsure whether your device is subject to an advisory, contact your device clinic directly.