Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41868154›Full record

ArticleJournal of arrhythmia2025

Explosion Risk of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices During Cremation: Experimental and Survey Findings From Japan.

Takanori Arimoto, Yasushi Oginosawa, Katsuya Ebe, Masatomo Takahashi, Eiichi Watanabe, Haruhiko Abe, Masahiko Takagi, Hiroshi Tada, Japanese Heart Rhythm Society

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of arrhythmia, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Takanori ArimotoDepartment of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology Yamagata University School of Medicine Yamagata Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2802-0794
Yasushi OginosawaDepartment of Heart Rhythm Management University of Occupational and Environmental Health Kitakyushu Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0955-7791
Katsuya EbeDepartment of Cardiology Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital Nagaoka Japan.
Masatomo TakahashiFukuda Denshi Tokyo Japan.
Eiichi WatanabeDivision of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine Bantane Hospital of Fujita Health University Nagoya Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2375-2323
Haruhiko AbeDepartment of Heart Rhythm Management University of Occupational and Environmental Health Kitakyushu Japan.
Masahiko TakagiDepartment of Medicine II Kansai Medical University Moriguchi Japan.
Hiroshi TadaDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Science University of Fukui Fukui Japan.
Japanese Heart Rhythm Society

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The widespread use of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), combined with increasing global cremation rates, has raised concerns regarding potential explosion risks during cremation. Lithium batteries within these devices may rupture due to heat-induced internal pressure, potentially threatening crematorium infrastructure and staff safety. Despite these concerns, real-world data on explosion behavior and its consequences remain limited. This study aimed to assess the explosion characteristics of CIEDs during cremation and evaluate their impact on facility safety, with the goal of informing evidence-based guidelines. Methods: Combustion experiments were performed using full-scale cremation furnaces set at 1100°C and 800°C. A total of 13 CIEDs (7 pacemakers and 6 implantable cardioverter-defibrillators) were tested, with synchronized audio-video monitoring. Additionally, nationwide survey data were collected from 2044 crematoria across Japan, focusing on cremation practices, reported damage, and staff injuries. Results: All tested devices exploded, with mean ignition-to-explosion times of 4.3 ± 1.1 min at 1100°C and 5.4 ± 2.0 min at 800°C ( Conclusions: Cremation of CIEDs without removal appears safe under modern, regulated facilities. However, region-specific guidelines remain necessary due to international variability in infrastructure and practices.

Indexed as

cardiac resynchronization therapycremationimplantable cardioverter‐defibrillatorspacemakers

Identifiers

PMID41868154
PMCPMC13001675

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.