Key result
Gallium scanning, combined with pocket fluid aspiration and culture, confirmed the diagnosis of automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator infection in three patients.
A gallium scan combined with fluid aspiration and culture is an effective diagnostic approach for confirming postoperative automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator infections.
May support gallium scanning for suspected ICD infections; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation.
This report describes three patients with infection involving an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. All three patients presented with fever, fluid in the pulse generator pocket, leukocytosis and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. A gallium scan, together with aspiration and culture of the fluid from the pocket, confirmed the diagnosis in each case.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Kelly et al. (1988) studied this question. Gallium scanning, combined with pocket fluid aspiration and culture, confirmed the diagnosis of automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator infection in three patients.
Synapse has enriched 4 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: