[Intravenous withdrawal of infected cardiac pacemaker electrodes. Apropos of 5 cases].
Infection of a cardiac pacemaker and its electrodes is one of the most serious complications after implantation of a pacemaker, as it can be life-threatening and constitutes an absolute indication for complete withdrawal of the implanted material which, up until recently, could only be performed by thoracotomy or sternotomy with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. A new transvenous technique for complete removal of the infected pacemaker system has been recently described. We report 5 cases of infected pacemaker systems in which this technique was used successfully allowing withdrawal of 10 electrodes and thereby avoiding the need for a major surgical operation.
Schläpfer
J
J
Division de Cardiologie, CHUV, Lausanne, Suisse.
Buckingham
T
T
Jiang
Z Y
ZY
Fromer
M
M
Kappenberger
L
L
D000368:Aged; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000601:surgery; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis