Treatment of infected left ventricular assist device using antibiotic-impregnated beads

There is no well-established therapy far treating infections of heart-assis t or artificial heart devices, a serious problem with life-threatening cons equences. We used a promising new approach in which antibiotic-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate beads were placed around an implanted left ventricul ar assist device to control an external blood pump infection in a bridge-to -transplant patient. in this case report, we describe the potential of anti microbial-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate beads for in situ control of i nfections involving external surfaces of cardiovascular devices. (C) 1999 b y The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.