[Successful removal of infected pacemaker leads under extracorporeal circulation in three cases].
We report three cases suffering from endocarditis caused by pacemaker lead infection. Because of the long interval beginning from implantation to surgical removal and the large vegetations on the leads, the entire pacemaker system was removed under extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Postoperative courses were uneventful and none of these patients have shown recurrent infection to date. The total removal of the pacemaker system using ECC support seems a safe and reliable procedure, provided that careful perioperative management is carried out.
Nishimura
Yosuke
Y
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Kajiwara
Takashi
T
D000368:Aged; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome