Author`s Reply

To the Editor,

We would like to thank to the authors for commenting on our article titled “Should Physicians Instead of Industry Representatives Be The Main Actor of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Follow-up?” for their valuable and beneficial contributions (1).

Firstly, the authors emphasized the importance of AF detection algorithms to preclude AF-related embolic complications in patients with high CHA2DS2VASc score. Moreover, they mentioned that industry representatives may not be aware of indications for stroke prevention in patients with cardiac devices and paroxysmal AF, a limitation that can leave patients at risk. In our study, we only evaluated the efficiency of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) programming and follow-up by industry representatives. Industry representatives are not supposed to have clinical knowledge (as CHA2DS2VASc score and stroke risk) during their follow-up. On the other hand, this excellent example stated by the authors again demonstrates why industry representatives alone should not follow-up the patients with CIEDs because not only the CIEDs but also the patients should be assessed together.

The authors mentioned that it is not always easy to follow the technological improvements in CIEDs; thus, collaboration among physicians and industry representatives gains more importance. As we emphasized in our article, the role of industry representatives is to provide technical support to the implant as well as technical assistance of their companies’ programmers in the follow-up clinics. Furthermore, we also emphasized in our article that follow-up of patients with CIEDs should be performed by physicians or a team including physicians and clinically employed allied professionals. On the other hand, as we mentioned in the article, it is not acceptable to allow industry representatives alone to follow-up patients with CIEDs.

We agree with the authors to act together and keep the patients informed regarding device recalls. Moreover, we thank the authors for their smart and educatory recommendations to improve device follow-up in developing countries.