Complete Pocket Resection with Regional Flap Closure for Treatment of Cardiac Implantable Device Infections

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic device infections are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. There are varied recommendations in the literature about treatment of the wound after extraction of all hardware, but only conservative, time-consuming approaches such as open packing and negative-pressure therapy along with a long interval before reimplanting any hardware have generally been recommended for the treatment. 1–4 Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 42 patients treated at Jersey Shore University Medical Center for implantable cardioverter defibrillator and permanent pacemaker infections between July 2010 and April 2018 with an aggressive, multidisciplinary approach utilizing an invasive cardiologist and a plastic surgeon. Clinical and demographic data were collected, and a descriptive analysis was conducted. Results: A total of 42 patients, with a median age of 76 years, were selected for our treatment of pacemaker pocket infection. Patients underwent removal of all hardware followed by debridement and flap closure of the wound soon after extraction. Reimplantation was performed when indicated typically within a week after initial extraction and typically on the contralateral side. There were no reports of reinfection and no mortality in all 42 patients treated. Conclusion: We found that the aggressive removal of all hardware and excisional debridement of the entire capsule followed by flap coverage and closure of the wound allowed for a shortened interval to reimplantation with no ipsilateral or contralateral infections during the follow-up period.