A case report of total removal of infected pacemaker with cardiopulmonary bypass

A successful removal of infected pacemaker with septicemia, pre-DIC state, and pneumonia is reported. A 44-year-old man received transvenous permanent pacemaker implantation through right subclavian region at 42 years of age. Two years and 3 months after implantation an abscess formed around the generator. Since incision and drainage were not effective, the generator was removed after 2 months (another pacemaker was reimplanted at the opposite side), and the initial pacing lead was cut after 3 months of initiation of the infection. But wound healing was not obtained and high fever-up occurred. Arterial blood culture showed septicemia caused by Staphylococcus aureus. He also suffered pre-DIC state and pneumonia. The end of the cut lead had fallen into the right ventricle. After general condition was recovered, the residual lead and the reimplanted pacemaker system were extirpated under cardiopulmonary bypass. And at the same time a new pacemaker system was implanted again. He was in good postoperative course, and he is up and well 8 months after operation.     

Total removal of infected pacemaker lead under cardiopulmonary bypass in a case of endocarditis, bacteremia and lung abscess

A 60-year-old man, who had undergone implantation of a transvenous pacemaker system on the left chest wall for sick sinus syndrome 19 years ago, was admitted because of endocarditis with septicemia and lung abscess 2 months after reimplantation of the generator. His blood culture revealed Staphylococcus aureus. Following debridement of the infected pacemaker pocket and antibiotics therapy, we tried to remove the pacemaker system under cardiopulmonary bypass 1 month after admission. In intraoperative inspection, the electrodes had become firmly encased with fibrous tissue within the tricuspid valve and the right ventricle. After the operation, antibiotic therapy was performed for 4 weeks. His postoperative course was uneventful. Patients with pacemaker infection should undergo aggressive total removal of the pacemaker system, particularly incase with endocarditis and bacteremia.     

Removal of infected pacemaker lead through sternotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass

A 66-year-old man, who had undergone DDD pacemaker implantation for complete A-V block two years ago, was admitted because of endocarditis with septicemia and renal failure. His blood culture revealed Staphylococcus aureus. We tried to remove the infected cardiac pacemaker lead. But we failed to remove the atrial lead because it was strongly adhered with the right atrial appendage. Antibiotic therapy was ineffective. In the last resort, we operated through median sternotomy three months after the initial infectious episode. In intraoperative inspection, we found it difficult to remove the lead by traction because of atrial residual lead sticking out of the right atrial appendage. We applied a purse string suture on the right appendage and obtained successful removal of infected lead without the cardiopulmonary bypass. His postoperative course has been uneventful. He is totally asymptomatic and doing well up to now. In case of such local infection, we conclude that all transvenous leads should be removed and recommend a simultaneous implantation of the epicardial pacemaker system.     

Tricuspid valve plasty associated with removal of an infected pacemaker lead: report of a case

We performed tricuspid valve plasty in a 72-year-old woman with pacemaker lead infection and septicemia. All the infected pacemaker system was removed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Because of advanced adhesion and infection, we needed partial resection and plasty of the tricuspid valve. Postoperative echocardiography revealed only mild tricuspid regurgitation and the recurrence of infection has been avoided. Our technique of valve plasty was useful in a patient with advanced infection of both pacemaker leads and tricuspid valve leaflets.     

Removal of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infected pacemaker leads under cardiopulmonary bypass: report of a case

A 71-year-old man, who underwent an intravenous pacemaker implantation previously, suffered from fever and local infection of the generator pocket. A blood culture showed positive for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). He underwent removal of total pacemaker system under cardiopulmonary bypass support successfully. Two leads were tightly adhered to the right atrial free wall, tricuspid valve and right ventricular trabeculation. Postoperative course was uneventful with administration of antibiotics for 5 weeks. Removal under cardiopulmonary bypass is considered to be an effective procedure for treatment of patients with infected pacemaker lead.     

Septicemia secondary to impacted infected pacemaker wire. Successful treatment by removal with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Infection of an intravenous pacemaker electrode developed in a 78-year-old man after multiple replacements and revisions of the pulse generator and the pacemaker lead. Spread of the infective process to the endocardium was followed by septicemia with Serratia marcescens and Staphyloccus epidermids. Failure of medical treatment and external traction on the pacemaker electrode led to thoracotomy and removal of the pacemaker electrode wires with the use of extracorporeal circulation. The tip of one of the pacemaker electrodes was found imbedded in the wall of the right ventricle and attached to the base of the tricuspid valve. Cultures from the endocardium removed with the electrode rendered the same organisms as cultured preoperatively. There has been no recurrence after 2 years following the removal of the infected electrodes. Although the problem described herein is not frequently found, radical treatment becomes necessary whenever infection and septicemia develop.     

Minimally invasive removal of infected pacemaker lead.

A 37-year-old woman with sick sinus syndrome suffered complications with recurring local infection at the generator pocket. Repeated debridement and antibiotic therapy was ineffective. Several attempts to remove leads via the implantation vein by direct traction were unsuccessful. We operated using cardiopulmonary bypass and applied a minimally invasive lower ministernotomy to obtain pleasing cosmetic results. After a right atriotomy, leads were removed. The minimally invasive approach gave satisfactory results, especially cosmetically.     

Surgical treatment of septicemia after pacemaker implantation: a case report of removal of infected lead under median sternotomy

A 73-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of septicemia associated with infection of an old retained pacemaker lead and a reimplanted pacemaker system. After general condition was recovered, the pacemaker system was removed and then the retained pacemaker lead was removed through median sternotomy. Then a new pacemaker system was implanted using myocardial leads. The postoperative course was uneventful.     

MRSA septicemia caused by an infected pacemaker lead: a case report with a review of Japanese literatures

A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of MRSA septicemia caused by a contaminated permanent pacemaker lead. A pacemaker system was successfully removed under cardiopulmonary bypass support. Postoperative antibiotics was administered for 7 weeks. Total removal of a pacemaker system under cardiopulmonary bypass support is the treatment of choice in a case with pacemaker infection associated with MRSA septicemia.     

Posterior mediastinal hemangioma successfully resected with cardiopulmonary bypass; report of a case

Mediastinal hemangioma is a rare tumor. We report a case of a 62-year-old woman with a posterior mediastinal hemangioma. She had a history of right breast cancer and a follow-up chest radiography revealed a mass located in the left posterior mediastinum. The size was about 80 mm in diameter. The tumor surrounded the descending thoracic aorta and involved intercostal arteries. Complete excision could be achieved by decompressing the descending aorta with the aid of partial cardiopulmonary bypass and the aortic cross-clamp. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as a benign hemangioma. It was reported that hemangioma would reccur after subtotal excision. To employ cardiopulmonary bypass was a very effective approach for the purpose of complete excision in our case.     

Massive acute aortic regurgitation after infected pacemaker lead removal: a word of caution

We report a case of massive acute aortic valve regurgitation in a 54-year-old man secondary to a percutaneous extraction of infected permanent pacemaker leads. This case emphasizes how carefully patients should be monitored during and after the procedure, regardless of their hemodynamic status. The patient successfully underwent urgent surgical intervention.     

Total percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass with Perclose ProGlide

Suture-mediated closure devices have been previously described as an interesting alternative to femoral cutdown during endovascular aortic procedures. The insertion of two or three devices before the cannulation (preclose technique) permits successful percutaneous access also with a large sheath up to 24 Fr diameter. The main benefit of percutaneous access is a lower rate of complication at the groin. The same technique can be applied to cardiac procedures where femoral cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is required. We report a series of 12 patients in whom total percutaneous CPB was successfully established using a Perclose ProGlide for the arterial access.     

完全腹腔镜髂-股动脉人工血管旁路术一例

目的探讨完全腹腔镜髂-股动脉人工血管旁路术的可行性和安全性。方法 2010年5月收治外伤后髂动脉闭塞患者1例,行完全腹腔镜髂总动脉-股动脉人工血管旁路术。患者取仰卧位,脐部下缘10mm切口建立气腹与腹腔镜通道,另置入2个5mmTrocar和1个12mmTrocar导入操作器械。经腹腔入路,游离右髂总动脉。周身肝素化（1mg/kg）后阻断右髂总动脉,远端夹闭后离断。置入膨体聚四氟乙烯人工血管,在腹腔镜下行人工血管-右髂总动脉端端吻合术。吻合成功后,将人工血管经皮下隧道引出至右腹股沟切口。开放手术行人工血管-右股动脉端侧吻合。结果手术过程顺利,手术时间250min,术中髂总动脉阻断时间55min,吻合时间40min,术中失血量300ml。随访1年,人工血管通畅。结论完全腹腔镜髂-股动脉人工血管旁路术是安全、可行的。熟练的腹腔镜血管吻合技术是手术成功的关键。     

Removal of infected pacemaker leads using lead removal kit (Cook Pacemaker Corporation)]

A new technique for effective removal of chronic transvenous pacemaker lead was developed to address the need for explantation of eroded and infected lead (Lead Removal Kit, Cook Pacemaker Corporation). This Kit consists of a stylet for locking at the distal tip of the lead and a sheath for separating adhering fibrous tissue. Successful removal of 3 leads in 2 patients using this kit was reported.