Abstract
For a number of reasons, infection of the pacemaker pocket is a serious complication.1–3 The initial local infection may spread through one or more pacing leads and invade the bloodstream, which in turn can initiate septicemia or endocarditis. Secondly, treatment of the infection requires removal of the pacemaker to eliminate the infective process. This approach frequently requires long-term temporary pacing in pacemaker-dependent patients with inherent problems. Thirdly, removal of the permanent leads is frequently necessary, which constitutes a dangerous intervention.4 It is very understandable that pacemaker pocket infection is associated with a high morbidity, lengthy hospitalization for careful surveillance of the infection and cardiac rhythm, and that this complication leads to high cost.
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Defauw, J.J.A.M.T., van Hemel, N.M., Jessurun, E.R. (1995). Prevention and Treatment of Pacemaker Infection. In: Van Hemel, N.M., Wittkampf, F.H.M., Ector, H. (eds) The Pacemaker Clinic of the 90’s. Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine, vol 175. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0347-3_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0347-3_6
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