Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infections: A Single Tertiary Care Center Experience

Abstract

INTRODUCTION[|]The rate of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections has become prevalent in recent years, and they are related to severe complications, as well as a cost burden. In the present study, we assessed the results of our single tertiary care center experience.[¤]METHODS[|]All patients who underwent CIEDs implantation between 2012 and 2018 with procedural and follow-up data available were included in this study.[¤]RESULTS[|]Device infection was defined in six of 512 patients aged from 29 to 78 years old. The mean follow-up period was 2.8+-1.7 years. They were new implants and system, removal which included a generator, and all transvenous leads were carried out for five cases. Removal of the generator and debridement of the pocket was performed in one case with isolated pocket erosion without local signs of infection and the wound was irrigated with antibiotic solution. A 2-week oral antibiotic therapy was administered to all patients following discharge. After reimplantation, there was no infection recurrence in three patients during 13+-6.1 months follow-up period. Baseline characteristics, with the exception of implanted device types, were similar between infected and non-infected patients. Hematoma or pneumothorax was not observed in patients with device infection.[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]Prevalent risk factors for device infections were not relevant to our patients. Our device infection rates (1.17%) were slightly lower, and there was no serious complication due to the device infection itself or its management.[¤]

Keywords

• cardiac implantable electronic devices
• infection; tertiary care center.