Affiliation:
1. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Abstract
Methods of eliminating pacemaker infection are reported in a prospective study of ten years. The majority of 400 patients were in their 7th and 8th dec ade. All procedures were done in the operating suite. Skin was prepared with providine-iodine soap and solution and the surgeon's hands were scrubbed with an iodophor sponge. All patients were given prophylactic antibiotics, the major ity receiving cephalothin. No drains were used. Cephalic vein entry was used in almost all cases. The wound was irrigated with kanamycin solution. One third of the patients had risk factors such as diabetes, heart failure and temporary pacemakers. Pacemakers of ten different manufacturers were used. There was one infection in this series.
Subject
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine