title: Perioperative complications of cardioverter-defibrillator implantation: the Emory experience.
abstract: Over a 5-year period, 110 cardioverter-defibrillators (109 epicardial, 1 transvenous) were implanted consecutively in selected patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The perioperative course of this patient population was examined to determine the associated morbidity and mortality of the procedure. Patients were predominantly male, with coronary artery disease and a decreased left ventricular ejection fraction. Most underwent median sternotomy for implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation. The incidence of perioperative mortality was found to be 2.7%. New-onset atrial fibrillation or flutter occurred in 17.3% of the patients during the postoperative period and aggravation of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in 19.1%. The ICD system became infected in 2.7% of the patients and the mediastinal incision site infected in 2.4%. Pneumonia developed in 4.5%. Other complications included significant blood loss, ICD pocket hematomas, and lead dislodgement. There is an appreciable incidence of morbidity and mortality associated with ICD implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roman-Gonzalez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Craver
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies