Feasibility and safety of a simplified draping method for pacing procedures.
OBJECTIVE
Traditional draping for pacing procedures is time-consuming. We evaluated prospectively the safety of a simplified method using a single adhesive drape intended for use in cardiac catheterization.


RESULTS
A single disposable adhesive drape was used in each of 250 consecutive pacing procedures by the same operator including 200 device implants and 50 revision procedures. We compared the results with those of 114 procedures performed in the same cardiac catheterization laboratory by three other operators using traditional draping methods for most cases. In the study group, no wound or pacemaker pocket infection, device erosion, or endocarditis was observed within the first 6 months after the procedure (0%, 95% CI 0-1.2%). One suspected infection occurred at 10 months (0.4%, 95% CI 0.1-2.2%). In the control group, there were two cases of early infection or suspected infection (2 of 114 procedures, 1.8%, 95% CI 0.27-6.1%), four cases of confirmed or suspected infection more than 6 months after the procedure giving an overall infection rate (6 of 114, 5.3%, 95% CI 2.1-11.0%) significantly higher than in the study group (P = 0.014, Fisher's exact test).


CONCLUSIONS
A simplified draping method involving a single adhesive fenestrated drape can be used for pacemaker or ICD implantation or revision procedures without an excessively elevated risk of infective complications.
Gallagher
Mark M
MM
Dipartimento di Cardiologia, Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, Roma 00133, Italy. mark_m_gallagher@hotmail.com
Santini
Luca
L
Magliano
Giulia
G
Sgueglia
Marianna
M
Venditti
Franco
F
Padula
Mina
M
Romeo
Francesco
F
D001512:Bedding and Linens; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013523:Surgical Equipment; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control