title: Successful removal of an infected pacemaker electrode by open heart surgery under extracorporeal circulation.
abstract: A 33-year-old male with sick sinus syndrome, who had received a pacemaker implant 18 years earlier, was complicated with a generator infection. Although the infected generator was removed, he was suffered from the recurrent local infection associated with a retained pacemaker lead. After a new pacemaker system implantation from the other side of the subclavian vein, we attempted to remove the lead utilizing a pacemaker removal kit. However, this intervention procedure was unsuccessful, because fibrous adhesions had developed around the lead, accompanied by calcification along its course. As a last resort, we opened the heart under extracorporeal circulation and removed the lead under direct vision. The post-operative course was uneventful. In order to remove a long-term implanted pacemaker lead, the direct surgical procedure with extracorporeal circulation is a favorable mean alternative to conventional intervention techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan. eiki@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tayama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arinaga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tomoeda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oryoji
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*