title: The value and limitations of a wound inspection clinic after cardiac device implantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to the growing number of cardiac device implantations it is important to develop methods to reduce device-implantation related complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a wound inspection clinic can play a role in the detection of device-implantation related complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-center observational study evaluating patients who received a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 159 patients who received an appointment for the wound inspection clinic, 52 (33%) received a pacemaker and 107 (67%) received an ICD. The majority had no signs of infection. Pain (n = 13,8%) and swelling (n = 11,7%) were the most frequent signs observed, but they never necessitated intervention and recovered spontaneously in all patients. During follow-up (mean 20+/-9 weeks), complications occurred in 10 patients (6%). Most complications occurred early, within 4 days after implantation. The two late complications (at 19 and 41 days) could not be recognized at the wound inspection clinic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no useful role for a wound inspection clinic two weeks post-implant to detect device-related complications. Open rapid access to the pacemaker/ICD center for patients with signs and symptoms of (threatening) complications seems to be more appropriate to manage post-implant patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J Han H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Deuling
authors.forename: Marcelle D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Alexander H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Maass
authors.forename: Ad F M
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Van den Heuvel
authors.forename: Wybe
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nieuwland
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zijlstra
authors.forename: Isabelle C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Van Gelder
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*