INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS OF IMPLANTABLE C ARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATORS - CASE-REPORT AND LITERATURE-REVIEW/

Implantable cardioverters/defibrillators have greatly improved surviva l in patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. As modern device s and technical skill and experience reduce surgical complications att ention is focussed on the potentially lethal infections of these devic es. Staphylococcus spp. can be isolated as the predominant causative o rganisms. Devices that require thoracotomy (as opposed to transvene sy stems) and generator replacement (as opposed to primary implantation) carry a higher risk of infections. Although there are sporadic reports on successful conservative management of ICD infection, explantation of the generator, leads and patches followed by reimplantation of a ne w device after no less than 2 weeks is still the recommended procedure . Concomitant intravenous antibiotic therapy should be continued for 4 to 6 weeks.